Fox Sparrows in California

Fox Sparrows live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds and berries.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Across California, fox sparrows typically nest from April–July. Nest site: cup on the ground or low in shrubs. Females lay 2–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 9–11 days.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

• Fox Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover fox sparrows use:

Scratches with both feet at once, flinging leaves.

• Best foods: Millet, Sunflower chips.
• In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.

Full diet breakdown for fox sparrows · Best feeder for fox sparrows