Fox Sparrow
Encyclopedia
The Fox Sparrow is a large American sparrow
. It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the genus into four species (see below).
and slate-colored
varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.
south on the west coast and to the eastern United States
.
and the west coast of North America
from Alaska
to California
. They nest either in a sheltered location on the ground or low in trees or shrubs. Nest typically contains two to five pale green to greenish white eggs speckled with reddish browns.
, NADH dehydrogenase
subunit
2 and 3, and D-loop
sequence
confirmed the 4 "subspecies groups"
of the Fox Sparrow that were outlined by the initial limited mtDNA haplotype
comparison (Zink 1994). These should probably be recognized as separate species, but this was deferred for further analysis of hybridization. Particularly the contact zones between the Slate-colored and Thick-billed Fox Sparrows which are only weakly distinct morphologically
were of interest; the other groups were found to be distinct far earlier (Swarth 1920).
The combined molecular data is unable to resolve the interrelationship of the subspecies group and of subspecies in these, but aids in confirming the distinctness of the Thick-billed group (Zink & Weckstein 2003). Biogeography
indicates that the coastal populations were probably isolated during an epoch of glaciation of the Rocky Mountains
range, but this is also not very helpful in resolving the remaining problems of within-group diversity, and inter-group relationships.
American sparrow
American sparrows are a group of mainly New World passerine birds, forming part of the family Emberizidae. American sparrows are seed-eating birds with conical bills, brown or gray in color, and many species have distinctive head patterns....
. It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the genus into four species (see below).
Taxonomy
More specific information regarding plumage is available in the accounts for the various taxa.- P. i. iliaca Red Fox SparrowRed Fox SparrowRed Fox Sparrow is the collective name for the most brightly colored taxa in the American sparrow genus Passerella, the Passerella iliaca iliaca group.-Taxonomy:...
is the generally the central and east coast taxa in the genus Passerella. This is the brightest colored group. - P. i. unalaschcensis Sooty Fox SparrowSooty Fox SparrowThe Sooty Fox Sparrow 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...
is the west coast taxa in the genus Passerella. It is browner than the Red Fox Sparrow. - P. i. schistacea Slate-colored Fox SparrowSlate-colored Fox SparrowThe Slate-colored Fox Sparrow group comprises the Rocky Mountain taxa in the genus Passerella. It is currently classified as a "subspecies group"...
is the Rocky Mountain taxa in the genus Passerella. It is a tiny-billed bird with a gray head and mantle, brown wings, brown breast streaks, and a russet tail. - P. i. megarhyncha Thick-billed Fox SparrowThick-billed Fox SparrowThe Thick-billed Fox Sparrow group comprises the peculiarly large-billed Sierra Nevadan taxa in the genus Passerella...
is the Sierra Nevada taxa in the genus Passerella. This group features a particularly thick bill.
Description
Adults are amongst the largest sparrows, heavily spotted and streaked underneath. All feature a messy central breast spot though it is less noticeable on the thick billedThick-billed Fox Sparrow
The Thick-billed Fox Sparrow group comprises the peculiarly large-billed Sierra Nevadan taxa in the genus Passerella...
and slate-colored
Slate-colored Fox Sparrow
The Slate-colored Fox Sparrow group comprises the Rocky Mountain taxa in the genus Passerella. It is currently classified as a "subspecies group"...
varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.
Behavior
These birds forage by scratching the ground, which makes them vulnerable to cats and other predators, though they are generally plentiful. Fox sparrows birds migrateBird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
south on the west coast and to the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Diet
They mainly eat seeds and insects, as well as some berries. Coastal fox sparrows may also eat crustaceans.Reproduction
Fox sparrows nest in wooded areas across northern CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the west coast of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They nest either in a sheltered location on the ground or low in trees or shrubs. Nest typically contains two to five pale green to greenish white eggs speckled with reddish browns.
Systematics
The review of Zink & Weckstein (2003) which added mtDNA cytochrome bCytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...
, NADH dehydrogenase
NADH dehydrogenase
NADH dehydrogenase is an enzyme located in the inner mitochondrial membrane that catalyzes the transfer of electrons from NADH to coenzyme Q...
subunit
Protein subunit
In structural biology, a protein subunit or subunit protein is a single protein molecule that assembles with other protein molecules to form a protein complex: a multimeric or oligomeric protein. Many naturally occurring proteins and enzymes are multimeric...
2 and 3, and D-loop
D-loop
In molecular biology, a displacement loop or D-loop is a DNA structure where the two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule are separated for a stretch and held apart by a third strand of DNA. The third strand has a base sequence which is complementary to one of the main strands and pairs with...
sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
confirmed the 4 "subspecies groups"
of the Fox Sparrow that were outlined by the initial limited mtDNA haplotype
Haplotype
A haplotype in genetics is a combination of alleles at adjacent locations on the chromosome that are transmitted together...
comparison (Zink 1994). These should probably be recognized as separate species, but this was deferred for further analysis of hybridization. Particularly the contact zones between the Slate-colored and Thick-billed Fox Sparrows which are only weakly distinct morphologically
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
were of interest; the other groups were found to be distinct far earlier (Swarth 1920).
The combined molecular data is unable to resolve the interrelationship of the subspecies group and of subspecies in these, but aids in confirming the distinctness of the Thick-billed group (Zink & Weckstein 2003). Biogeography
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
indicates that the coastal populations were probably isolated during an epoch of glaciation of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
range, but this is also not very helpful in resolving the remaining problems of within-group diversity, and inter-group relationships.
General references
- Beadle, D. & Rising, J. D. (2002): Sparrows of the United States and Canada. Academic Press, San Diego. ISBN 0-691-11747-0
- Sibley, David AllenDavid Allen SibleyDavid Allen Sibley is an American ornithologist. He is the author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds, considered by many to be the most comprehensive guide for North American field identification....
(2000): The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. ISBN 0-679-45122-6
- Swarth, H. W. (1920): Revision of the avian genus Passerella with special reference to the distribution and migration of the races in California. University of California Publications in Zoology 21: 75–224.
- Zink, Robert M. & Kessen, A. E. (1999): Species Limits in the Fox Sparrow. Birding 31: 508-517.
- Zink, Robert M. & Weckstein, Jason D. (2003): Recent evolutionary history of the Fox Sparrows (Genus: Passerella). Auk 120(2): 522–527. [Article in English with Spanish abstract] DOIDigital object identifierA digital object identifier is a character string used to uniquely identify an object such as an electronic document. Metadata about the object is stored in association with the DOI name and this metadata may include a location, such as a URL, where the object can be found...
: 10.1642/0004-8038(2003)120[0522:REHOTF]2.0.CO;2 HTML fulltext (without images)
External links
- Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Fox Sparrow Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Fox Sparrow Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
- Fox Sparrow videos on the Internet Bird Collection