Passerella unalaschcensis
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The sooty fox sparrow (Passerella (iliaca) unalaschcensis) contains the darkest-colored taxa in the genus Passerella. It is currently classified as a "subspecies group" within the fox sparrow pending wider-spread acceptance of species status.
The sooty fox sparrow complex varies clinally in intensity of color. The upperparts and head are a variable shade of brown, with streaks on the underparts of the same color. The northernmost birds are a sandy brown, while southernmost birds are a dark coffee-like color. Sooties prefer to breed in willows and alders at the edge of wet habitats.
Six subspecies are usually recognized in the sooty... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Sooty Fox Sparrow sighting in Vancouver on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 122nd most-seen of the 252 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sooty Fox Sparrow in Vancouver on a given day, against under 5% in January to November, the lowest months. That is one of Vancouver's wettest months, with about 180 mm of rain against 25 mm in July.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Sooty 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.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Sooty Fox Sparrow sightings, Vancouver has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come San Francisco (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Sooty Fox Sparrow is recorded against all the birds logged in Vancouver (6 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.
