Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca zaboria), Lower Madera Canyon, Pima County

This Red Fox Sparrow was discovered and photographed by Dick Dionne on 25 January 2012.

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. iliaca.

Rufous crown and auriculars separate the "Red" from other forms of Fox Sparrow. The overall bright reddish and bold breast streaking and spotting and the bright yellowish bill are also indicators.

25 January 2012, photo by Dick Dionne

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer