Red form of Fox Sparrow observed on Hillcrest Drive.
This winter there were several Fox Sparrows hanging around the neighborhood. Most winters Fox Sparrows are Rare at best, so it was unusual to see as many as 8, despite the cooler and snowier conditions that prevailed this year as compared to other years. Of particular interest to me was a red form (Taiga form in Sibley’s Guide) individual that I saw several times. Although the size, shape, and pattern of coloration is basically the same, the red form is not nearly as dark brown as the birds we typically see here. For comparison, I’ve included a picture of a more typical looking bird below.
Fox Sparrow