LXVIII 



Fox SPARROW ; FOX-TAIL SPARROW 

 555. Passerella iliaca iliaca 



This is one of the best singers and is the largest of 

 the Sparrows, measuring seven and one-half inches. As 

 compared to the English Sparrow it is a much longer 

 bird ; it does no.t present so much rusty red markings on 

 its head as most Sparrows, but its white breast with well- 

 marked reddish oblong spots will aid in its identification. 

 The Hermit Thrush or female Eed-winged Blackbird 

 might mislead an untrained observer in identification. 

 (Fig. 103.) 



The Fox Sparrow has no wing bars ; both sexes are 

 similarly marked. The long tail, with the upper surface 

 fox-red, and the ground-scratching habits of the bird are 

 characteristic. It does not breed in the United States. 

 It nests on the ground, or in low bushes, and lays from 

 three to five greenish-white, rusty-spotted eggs. It 

 spends most of the time on the ground, scratching among 

 the leaves in pursuit of its food supply. The bird is very 

 timid, seeking cover at the least alarm, but soon returns 

 to its feeding on the ground in the thicket. 



Fox Sparrows are frequently seen in company with 

 Juncos, feeding within a few inches of them. 



The winter of 1921 was one of unusually high tem- 

 peratures and many of the migrants that usually spend 

 the hard, cold winters farther south paused near Kansas 

 City, where they were to be seen in every locality that 

 suited their fancy. There was very little snow and no 

 zero weather ; in March the frogs were singing as though 

 it were a May day and many birds of late April migration 

 were to be seen in the hedge rows, brushy thickets and 

 wood fields. 



While doing some field work along a small stream 

 bordered with sumach, elms and briars, I was attracted 

 by several Fox Sparrows busily engaged, like so many 

 domestic hens, scratching in the dead leaves, fallen 

 grasses and weeds. Their actions were truly like those 



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