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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Fox Sparrow
(Passerella iliaca) B/W |
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RANGE: Breeds from Alaska and the Yukon to
northern Quebec and northern Labrador, south to northwestern
Washington, in the western mountains to southern California and
central Colorado, and east of the Rockies, across central Canada
to southern Quebec. Winters from southern Alaska and southern
British Columbia south through the Pacific States, and from
central Arizona, Kansas and New Brunswick south to Mexico and
central Florida.
STATUS: Common.
HABITAT: Fairly nonspecific in its requirements, needing only
dense, shrubby undergrowth. Inhabits a wide variety of habitats
throughout its range, including the undergrowth of deciduous or
coniferous forests, brushy woodland edges, woodland thickets,
chaparral, burns, cut over areas, scrub, riparian woodlands,
willow thickets, and montane coniferous scrub.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Dense shrubby undergrowth.
Strongest nesting habitat associations in Siskiyou
Mountains shrubland on serpentine bedrock and grassland
interspersed with fir or ponderosa pine.
NEST: Commonly locates nest on the ground, well-concealed by
surrounding tangles of vegetation, or in a bush or tree,
typically less than 6 feet, but up to 20 feet above the ground.
Prefers conifers for nesting.
FOOD: Feeds primarily on insects in summer and on seeds of weeds
and some grasses in winter. Forages on the ground, scratching in
leaf litter under shrubs and in weed patches.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Austin in Bent 1968c, Forbush
and May 1955, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Terrill in Bent 1968c,
Verner and Boss 1980. |
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