524 



MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



238. Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca iliaca (Merrem). (585) 



Synonyms: Fox-colored Sparrow, Fox-tail. — Fringilla iliaca, Merrem, 178G, Nutt., 

 1832, Aud., 1834.— Fringilla rufa, Wils., 1811.— F. ferruginea, Gmel., 1788, Wilson, 1812. 

 — Passerella iliaca, Bonap., 1838, and most modern authors. 



Figures 118, 119. 



The large size (over 7 inches), rust-red back, wings and tail, and heavily 

 spotted breast and sides, distinguish this sparrow from all others. But 

 for the short thick bill it might easily be mistaken for a thrush; in fact it 

 strongly suggests the Hermit Thrush. 



Distribution.- — Eastern North America, west to the Plains and Alaska, 

 and from the Arctic coast south to the Gulf States. Breeds north of the 

 United States, winters chiefly south of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers. 



In Michigan the Fox Sparrow seems to be irregularly distributed during 

 migrations, but as a rule is not ver}^ common. Near Detroit Mr. Swales 



Fig. 118. Fox Sparrow. 

 From Nuttall's Ornithology. Little, Brown & Co. 



says "Not as abundant as it was in the eighties; some seasons pass and I 

 do not see a single bird." Mr. 0. B. Warren of Palmer, Marquette county, 

 says "Common, but of rather irregular occurrence; more common in spring 

 than fall. None observed in 1895; they must have suffered from the severe 

 storms in the south, in company with the Bluebird and Hermit and Olive- 

 backed Thrushes." 



Ordinarily it arrives from the south in April, early in the southern part, 

 somewhat later than the middle of the month at the north; but apparently 

 it enters the state in March, and we have a record of March 5, 1884 for 

 Saline, Mich., March 21, 1884 at Petersburg, and March 17, 1881 at Battle 

 Creek. Specimens were killed on Spectacle Reef Light April 23, 1890, 

 and October 5 and October 8 the same year. At Bay City Mr. Eddy has 



