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Tucson Audubon Society Reprinted from the February, 2001 Vermilion Flycatcher, newsletter of the Tucson Audubon Society. Outfoxing
Arizona Fox Sparrows So what are the four forms? Different authors parse them differently, but the generally preferred form names are: the Red, Sooty, Slate-colored (or Gray), and Thick-billed forms. The new Sibley Guide uses these preferred form names, with additional range designations. And the new Kaufman Focus Guide portrays examples of each of these. The text of the Peterson Western Guide calls them “bright rusty,” “gray headed (with) large yellowish bills,” and “dusky head, back and upper breast,” while illustrating the four forms with less helpful geographic designations. The National Geographic Guide illustrates the four forms but uses mostly subspecies names and geographic ranges, which are of less help (or even misleading when studying wintering birds in Arizona). Weakly, the Golden Guide only describes “Eastern” and “Western” types. Confusion arises when field guides apply subspecies names or geographic names without enough emphasis on form names. Thus, we may hear reports of “Eastern Fox Sparrow” in Arizona in winter. Is that correct? Well, while the “Red Fox Sparrow” form does occur in Arizona and all “Eastern” birds are “Red,” not all “Reds” are “Eastern” (subspecies iliaca). In Arizona, there is no specimen evidence of iliaca. Instead, the Arizona specimens of “Red Fox Sparrow” are of the subspecies zaboria, the “Yukon Fox Sparrow.” So should these reports be of “Yukon Fox Sparrow” instead of “Eastern Fox Sparrow”? Nope! The two aren’t always separable even in the hand. Unless examined in the hand by an experienced person, it should be reported as a “Red Fox Sparrow”, a readily identifiable form. So where does that leave Arizona birds and birders? Probability is an important consideration. If you are fortunate enough to see any Fox Sparrow in Arizona, by far the most common form is the Slate-colored, usually the subspecies schistacea (contrary to the recent article in Birding). The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona by Monson and Phillips (1981) also lists zaboria and altivagans (Red, occasional), megarrhynca (Thick-billed, twice only), and townsendi (Sooty, once only). With this in mind, any of the forms of Fox Sparrow are possible here, and should be identifiable to form with the help of one of the better field guides. Some day each form may count as a separate species for your list. It is worth reporting this distributional detail even if they are never split. But, beware of naming a subspecies or calling one by a regional name when it is wintering in Arizona – unless it has out-of-state license plates. And if you have out-of-state plates, make sure it isn’t just one of our bright desert Song Sparrows! Sources: Kaufman, K. 2000. Birds of North America. Monson, G & Phillips, AR. 1981. Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona, 2nd edition. Peterson, RT. 1990. Western Birds, 3rd edition. Pyle, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1. Rising, J. 1996. A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of The Sparrows of the US and Canada. Sibley, D.A. 2000 The Sibley Guide to Birds. Tweit, J (editor). 1999. Davis and Russell’s Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, 5th edition. Bird questions? Check Birding | General questions? Contact: Tucson Audubon Society | Webmaster: Email This page was updated on 02/21/06 |