Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca, "iliaca" group), Florida Canyon, Pima County

Continuing the "Patagonia Roadside Rest Area Effect" (see here for explanation) due to the presence of the Rufous-capped Warblers:

This "Red" Fox Sparrow appeared from a tangle of Wild Cotton in Florida Canyon above the Work Center on 28 December 2008. It was seen by Laurens Halsey, Greg Smith, and Allen and Denise Klaiber, and photographed by Laurens.

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 with 24 reports in the last 7 winters.  All three of these less common forms are now review subspecies for the Arizona Bird Committee.  The committee is very anxious to receive documentation on these other forms because their status in Arizona is poorly known and it is possible they could be split into separate species in the future. 

"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.

28 December 2008, photo by Laurens Halsey

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