Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca iliaca/zaboria), Riparian Preserve Gilbert Water Ranch, Maricopa County

This Red Fox Sparrow was found by Karen Fluge and Terry Rosenmeier on 1 January 2019 and photographed by Babs Buck on 01 March 2019

Red Fox Sparrow was removed from the review list in 2015 and is a rare fall migrant and winter visitor, primarily to the southeast portion of the state. 

Rufous auriculars 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 base are also indicators of this subspecies group of Fox Sparrow.

01 March 2019, photo by Babs Buck

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