Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca zaboria), San Pedro RNCA, Cochise County

This Red Fox Sparrow was found and photographed by Carol Riddell on 01 March 2014

The Slate-colored Fox Sparrow is the expected form in Arizona. The other three forms (Red, Sooty and Thick-billed) have all occurred in Arizona, but the Red Fox Sparrow is the most frequent of these. "Red" Fox Sparrow (iliaca group) is itself split into two subspecies. The western P. i. zaboria is the subspecies known to occur in Arizona but it is not separable in the field from the other subspecies of Red Fox Sparrow, P. i. iliac.

Large Sparrow. Reddish color on the upperparts seen when the bird flew away. Rufous crown streaks and auriculars on an otherwise gray head separate the "Red" from other forms of Fox Sparrow. The overall bold bright rusty breast streaking & spotting (inverted 'V's ) and the bright yellowish bill are also indicators of this subspecies group of Fox Sparrow.

01 March 2014, photo by Carol Riddell

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