Fox sparrow

Fox sparrow with rusty red back and tail and a grey head standing in fresh snow, Manitoba

The fox sparrow is the largest of the North American sparrows, and the form seen here is rich red-brown on the back, wings, and tail, with a grey head and heavy, rusty streaking on a pale chest.

Fox sparrows pass through Manitoba on migration, and they are often found scratching in leaf litter and under shrubs, kicking both feet backward to uncover seeds and insects. This one was standing in fresh snow.

I love the rich, foxy red-brown of a fox sparrow, especially when it stands out against a patch of snow.

Want to learn more about the fox sparrow and where it lives? Visit its page at All About Birds.

Fox sparrow Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the fox sparrow in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the fox sparrow nests and migrates, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the fox sparrow in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Taiga Shield, the Hudson Plains, and the Southern Arctic (gold) and passing through the Boreal Shield, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies in spring and fall (lilac). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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