Photo: USFWS Midwest Region / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Red Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 33.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Passerella
- Species iliaca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 33.2 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red Fox Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Red Fox Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a species of bird in the Passerellidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA nw, c Alaska to e Canada.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 33.2 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red Fox Sparrow?
The Red Fox Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 33.2 g.
Where does the Red Fox Sparrow live?
The Red Fox Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA nw, c Alaska to e Canada, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red Fox Sparrow belong to?
The Red Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red Fox Sparrow eat?
The Red Fox Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red Fox Sparrow migrate?
The Red Fox Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red Fox Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red Fox Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Red Fox Sparrow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red Fox Sparrow's range?
The Red Fox Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 5.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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