North America

Passerella iliaca, commonly known as the Fox Sparrow, is typically found in a variety of environments depending on the time of year and the subspecies. During the breeding season, they are often found in brushy, wooded areas within boreal forests, montane forests, and northern thickets. In the winter, they range into areas with dense vegetation such as shrubby fields, brushy areas, and edges of forests.

The Fox Sparrow utilizes dense underbrush as cover and nesting sites. They primarily feed on seeds and insects, foraging on the ground by scratching through leaf litter. This species plays a role in seed dispersal and insect population control in its native ecosystem. Variations in habitat use are seen among different subspecies; for example, the 'Sooty' Fox Sparrow subspecies can be adapted to coniferous coastal forests, whereas the 'Slate-colored' Fox Sparrow is more often associated with drier, brushier areas.