California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)

Error message

Unable to fetch location details at this time.

Photo by HemaShah

Published on Project Noah

Zoom

36.7783, -119.418

Field Notes

Description:

Gray-brown overall Short, conical bill Warm, reddish brown eye ring and face Long brown tail
Reddish brown undertail coverts Often forages on ground

Habitat:

California Towhees live in chaparral and other tangled, shrubby, and dry habitats. They’re also at home in the small backyards and neighborhood parks of lowland California towns.

Notes:

Few birds are as uniformly matte brown as a California Towhee. A patch under the tail (called the crissum), giving the bird its scientific name) is a noticeably warmer ruddy brown. Males look the same as females

Reference Links:

California Towhee, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Species ID Suggestions