Passerella iliaca
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the species into four (see below). Major taxonomic authorities currently differ in their treatment of the fox sparrow complex. The IOC World Bird List/Birds of the World: Recommended English Names and the HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World treat each of the four subspecies groups as a separate species, while eBird/The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World and The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World currently treat the complex as a single species.
More specific information regarding plumage is available in the accounts for the various taxa. Adults are among the largest New World sparrows, heavily spotted and streaked underneath. All feature a messy central breast spot though this is less noticeable on the thick billed and slate-colored varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.
Measurements: Length: 15–19 cm (5.9–7.5 in) Wingspan: 26.7–29 cm (10.5–11.4 in) Weight: 26–44 g (0.92–1.55 oz) Fox sparrows are a... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Seattle | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Portland | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Tijuana | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 10 | Sacramento | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Fox Sparrow sighting in Seattle on a given day, based on 7,154 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 57th most-seen of the 271 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March and October–January
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Fox Sparrow in Seattle on a given day, against under 5% in May to August, the lowest months. Those are among Seattle's wettest months, with about 160 mm of rain a month against 20 mm in July.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Fox Sparrow sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 27
Of the 27 cities where we can rate Fox Sparrow sightings, Seattle ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Vancouver (Canada, about 20%).
Same family: Passerellidae
The closest relatives of the Fox Sparrow that you can see in Seattle (family Passerellidae, New World Sparrows) are Song Sparrow (about 80%), Dark-eyed Junco (about 80%) and Spotted Towhee (about 70%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Fox Sparrow is recorded against all the birds logged in Seattle (7,154 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
