MICHIGAN BIRD LIL. 
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238. Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca iliaca (Merrem). (585) 
Synonyms: TFox-colored Sparrow, Vox-tail—tringilla iliaca, Merrem, 1786, Nutt., 
1832, Aud., 1834.—Fringilla rufa, Wils., 1811.—I*. ferruginea, Gmel., 1788, Wilson, 1812. 
—Passerella iliaca, Bonap., 1838, and most modern authors. 
Figures 118, 119. 
i 
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 very 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. O. 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 
