Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca zaboria), Bellota Lake, Redington Pass, Pima County

This Red Fox Sparrow was found and photographed by Paul Suchanek on 14 February 2016

Two (Sooty and Thick-billed) of the four recognizable forms of Fox Sparrow are review species for Arizona. The Slate-colored Fox Sparrow is the expected form throughout much of Arizona while the Red Fox Sparrow was recently removed from the review list and is a rare fall migrant and winter visitor, primarily to southeast portion of the state. 

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.

14 February 2016, photo by Paul Suchanek

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