fox sparrow

Not what I'd call a rare visitor to my yard, but a very infrequent one. I only see them a few times a year in small numbers. Some years I don't see any.

This species characteristically scratches with both feet at once. This behavior appears to be hard wired no matter what the food source. I've seen them do the same thing while standing on top of a pile of birdseed. This Fox Sparrow is a member of the unalaschcensis group sometimes split as a...

They alway hang out on the edge of the creek in all that pine straw.

I usually see these guys in December. They're running late this year ;)

Every year I see more of this bird. I'm not sure if the population is expanding or they have just past the word that this is a good food stop on their way north to Canada.

It seems this large sparrow has different color variations depending on location across North America. This one is designated, Red(TAIGA).

I only see this sparrow on the way south or in the spring as it moves north to breed in Canada.

......because I'm hiding behind this branch! Actually this large Fox Sparrow landed just outside a window and he caught some movement from me and was trying to get a better look. Interesting story: These sparrows are larger than other sparrows, and tend to chase away any sparrow rivals for...

Had a couple of these fox sparrows drop by yesterday. Don't see these birds very often. Looked like it might be a male/female pair. Maybe they'll nest around here! Hard to get these guys prettily perched on a tree branch,(although I got a good one last year) they seem to prefer ground feeding.

Thank you to all of you that have commented on my pictures. I do appreciate it.

No sooner do I say I don't see these guys on a tree branch any more, when this morning I see one of these guys on a tree branch! lol! Full zoom at a very oblique angle through a window.

These large sparrows are so shy and skittish. And they have completely gone to ground as far as sighting them is concerned. Very rare to see them on a tree branch now. Not an open one anyway, and at the slightest disturbance they zoom into the nearest thick evergreen tree and completely...

If not I give up.

Fox Sparrow posing up in the branches. For most of the time I saw it yesterday, it was foraging on the ground.

As the glaciers reluctantly recede from our yard, and grass starts to reappear, ground feeders like this guy (or girl?) seem much happier. This one was hopping around, kicking at the ground in a very sparrow-like way. It got its share of sunflower seeds and now is gone. Hope it comes back for...

Had what I believe to be a Fox Sparrow come a callin today. I don't remember ever seeing one here before. Maybe using this place as a rest stop on his way north? Very noticable for his size, bigger than the other sparrows that come here. Pretty bird. Shot came out pretty good considering it was...

This is the "Thick-Billed" variety of California.

This bird has phenotypical characteristics of the Sooty and the Slate colored varieties. The slight infusion of gray (slate) in the auricular region; the dark rufous color of the malar stripe; the band of light color below the chin (Sooty). Over-all coloring is rufous into the chevron patterns...