Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Fox Sparrow (Bruant Fauve)

Colonel Samuel Smith Park
Toronto, ON
12 November 2014

     Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca is a large sparrow, presenting many different colour variations across the continent, from dark chocolate brown to the red morph found in central and eastern Canada. 


     It breeds across the arctic tundra and migrates south to spend the winter here, although many birds move even farther south into the United States.
     Never an easy bird to photograph, it is often concealed in scrubby undergrowth, usually near water. This individual was in fact close to water, but was feeding adjacent to the path with a couple of White-throated Sparrows. It gave me but a couple of minutes, but in that time I was able to capture these images.






     I consider myself fortunate to have been able to photograph this large, exceedingly handsome sparrow.

David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

7 comments:

  1. Parabéns pelas fotos dos pardais.
    Esse de cor mais ocre eu nunca vi por aqui.
    Abraços!

    vitornani.blogspot.com

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  2. It certainly is a handsome sparrow in that morph. We have to be lucky sometimes!

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  3. I am always amazed at the existing number of passeridae!
    But this one is really a beauty!
    I envy your luck but I am so thrilled at seeing it here!! ;-)
    We hope you are both well!
    Hugs from France!

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  4. Such a beautifully coloured bird David. It could hardly be called anything but "foxy" with such red and orange shades.I didn't realise there were many different colourways but you seem to have the best?

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  5. What a beautiful sparrow is this. We also have sparrows but not as good as this. Nice Wonderful to see, and great that you could get these in the picture David:-)

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  6. Just catching up again, David.

    That Fox Sparrow is a gorgeous looking bird! Wonderful coloration! Super captures too.

    Best wishes to you both - - - Richard

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