Identification - This bird is a large sparrow that shows much geographical variation in its appearance. The typical eastern bird has a rusty head, back, and wings, and a clear rufous-red tail. Along the Pacific coast it has much less rufous, or none at all, in the tail and all have gray brown or dark brown bodies. However, throughout its range most Fox Sparrows show the underpart streaks made up of dark 'arrow heads' or inverted "V"s. Some of these "V"s usually coalesce into a central chest spot. Fox Sparrows dig on the surface using both feet at once in a backward kick.
Morsels - Birds of the same kind from different locations may look quite different from one another. The Fox Sparrow is a fine example. One from the mountains of British Columbia is a drab bird, plain sooty brown above. Another from Ontario is very pretty with a gray head and a back streaked with chestnut. Such variation is explained, in part, by differing environments. Birds from areas of high rainfall tend to be darker than birds from more arid areas.
