Sooty Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis Group), Buckeye, Maricopa County

This Sooty Fox Sparrow was found and photographed by Lyndie Mason Warner on 26 October 2017

The status of this subspecies group in Arizona is poorly known. Since the ABC began reviewing the group in the early 2000s, there have been two accepted records, as well as one pending review, in addition to a historical specimen listed by Monson and Phillips (1981). The Sooty Fox Sparrow appears to be casual at best in the state, with most birds belonging to the Slate-colored group and a larger minority being in the Red group, which was removed from the review list in 2015. Of note was an apparent Sooty x Red intergrade photographed in 2015.

Sooty Fox Sparrow differs from the more expected Slate-colored Fox Sparrow by its much browner (rather than gray) upperparts, indistinct or absent wing markings, weaker face pattern, browner flanks, and thicker brown spots on the underparts coalescing into a large, messy dark breast patch.

26 October 2017, photo by Lyndie Mason Warner

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