Today I saw a FOX SPARROW that I believe may be a RED FOX SPARROW. The rump
and tail are much redder than our sooties. There is a fair amount of red in
the wings as well. The upper back is streaked. The crown is noticably
darker than the face, which seems to have a reddish line below the eye. The
bill seems brighter yellow than our sooties. At least the lower mandible.

The front of the bird appears streaked as opposed to the sooties which to me
seem to be more spotted. I have yet to view this bird in good light, so I'm
uncertain about the color of the front streaking. I believe it's not so
much red as it is brown. There is a large central spot.

I saw this same bird on 12/20 at the very same location. Although I briefly
searched for it several times between 12/20 and 12/27, I did not find it.
There are at least 2 sooties in this location as well as many Song,
White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows.

>From the intersection of Hwy 167 and 277th in south King County (Auburn,
just south of Kent) head east on 277th past Toysmith on the right. Turn
left at the traffic light AFTER Toysmith. Almost immediately you will come
to a mill on the right. (Look here for Rusty Blackbird; I keep trying for
one). On the left is a muddy turn out with a silo in the middle. This is
where I saw the Fox Sparrow.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA