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DESCRIPTION |
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The fox sparrow is striped on its whitish
undersides, with large wings, long legs, heavy bill and
rounded head. It reaches 6-7 ½ inches in size.
There is some color variation across subspecies, which
are found in different ranges. The two subspecies found
in Yellowstone are the slate-colored fox sparrow which
is gray on the upper parts, face, and back and red on
the wings and tail; and the thick-billed fox sparrow with
grayish-brown upper parts and dark brown wings and tail. |
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GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE & HABITAT |
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It breeds in Alaska, across northern
Canada east to Quebec, and in the Rockies, preferring
coniferous forests and bushy wooded areas. It winters
over a wide range from Canada to southern USA primarily
in tall bushy areas, thickets, wet woods (e.g., swamps),
and pastures. Usually it migrates in the early spring
and late fall. |
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FOOD HABITS & DIET |
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Primarily a ground forager, it nosily
scratches about mostly for seeds but also insects. Typically
it takes short forward hops and then with both feet scratches
back. It also eats millipedes, spiders, and fruit. |
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SOCIAL STRUCTURE |
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The male sings in the spring in order
to defend the territory containing the nest and may attack
intruders of other species as well as his own. The female
is probably responsible alone for building the nest. |
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REPRODUCTION |
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The clutch size is 3-5, the incubation
period is 12-14 days, and the fledging time is 9-11 days.
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NESTING |
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The nest is typically in low branches
of willow or a similar woody plant, no higher than 8 feet
or on the ground. The nest is an open-cup type, with thick
walls made of various vegetation, including twigs, grass
stems, and/or leaves. |
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CONSERVATION |
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Recent counts suggest fewer numbers,
though not critically fewer, especially in eastern ranges. |
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INTERESTING FACTS |
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The fox sparrow has long been divided
into a number of subspecies spread over a wide range,
and some experts believe, supported by DNA data, that
isolated groups are now in the early stage of speciation,
i.e., developing into separate species. |
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