Fox Sparrow
Fox SparrowFox SparrowFox SparrowFox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Saguaro National Park
31 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026
16,377 Verified sightings across all 38 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Fox Sparrow

The fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the species into four (see below). Major taxonomic authorities currently differ in their treatment of the fox sparrow complex. The IOC World Bird List/Birds of the World: Recommended English Names and the HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World treat each of the four subspecies groups as a separate species, while eBird/The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World and The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World currently treat the complex as a single species.

More specific information regarding plumage is available in the accounts for the various taxa. Adults are among the largest New World sparrows, heavily spotted and streaked underneath. All feature a messy central breast spot though this is less noticeable on the thick billed and slate-colored varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.

Measurements: Length: 15–19 cm (5.9–7.5 in) Wingspan: 26.7–29 cm (10.5–11.4 in) Weight: 26–44 g (0.92–1.55 oz) Fox sparrows are a... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park

Abert's Towhee
LC

Abert's Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone aberti

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Black-throated Sparrow
LC Endemic

Black-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amphispiza bilineata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Rufous-winged Sparrow
LC

Rufous-winged Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Peucaea carpalis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Lark Sparrow
LC

Lark Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chondestes grammacus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Lincoln's Sparrow
LC

Lincoln's Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza lincolnii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Canyon Towhee
LC

Canyon Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone fusca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Brewer's Sparrow
LC

Brewer's Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella breweri

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Green-tailed Towhee
LC

Green-tailed Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pipilo chlorurus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Savannah Sparrow
LC Endemic

Savannah Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerculus sandwichensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~50%
2 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
~40%
3 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
4 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
5 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
6 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
7 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
8 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
9 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
10 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
11 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
12 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
13 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
14 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
15 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
16 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
17 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
18 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
19 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
20 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
21 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
24 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
27 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
28 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
29 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
30 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
31 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
32 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
34 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
35 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
36 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
37 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
38 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Fox Sparrow in Saguaro National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Fox Sparrow sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 31 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Fox Sparrow in Saguaro National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Fox Sparrow in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

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