About Passerella iliaca (Merrem, 1786)
Adults of this species are among the largest sparrows, with heavy spotting and streaking on their underparts. All individuals have a blurry central breast spot, though this spot is less noticeable on the thick-billed and slate-colored varieties. Plumage differs noticeably between different groups of this species. This species has the following measured size ranges: length from 5.9 to 7.5 inches (15 to 19 cm), weight from 0.9 to 1.6 ounces (26 to 44 g), and wingspan from 10.5 to 11.4 inches (26.7 to 29 cm). For reproduction, fox sparrows nest in wooded areas across northern Canada and western North America, ranging from Alaska to California. They place their nests in either a sheltered spot on the ground, or low in trees or shrubs. A typical clutch holds two to five pale green to greenish white eggs, speckled with reddish brown. The scientific name of this species is Passerella iliaca (Merrem, 1786).
