California Towhee

The California towhee (Melozone crissalis) is a bird of the family Emberizidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California Sur in Mexico.

The taxonomy of this species has been debated. At the higher level, some authors place the towhees in the family Fringillidae. Within the group, there has been debate about whether the distinction between this species and the similar canyon towhee (Melozone fuscus) should be at the specific or subspecific level. The two populations are quite isolated from each other, and molecular genetics seems to have settled the matter in favour of two distinct species for the present. On the other hand there seems to be little distinction between the northern and Baja Californian populations within M. crissalis.

 

Appearance

The California towhee's coloring is dull brown overall with light rust undertail coverts and buff or rust colored streaks at the throat. There is little sexual dimorphism. It is around 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) in length, and has a noticeably long tail of 8.2 to 11.6 cm (3.2 to 4.6 in). Its appearance suggests a large, plain sparrow. Males weigh from 48.6–61.2 g (1.71–2.16 oz), with an average of 53.9 g (1.90 oz), while females weigh from 46.3–61.2 g (1.63–2.16 oz), with an average of 51.8 g (1.83 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 7.9 to 10.4 cm (3.1 to 4.1 in), the bill is 1.3 to 1.6 cm (0.51 to 0.63 in) and the tarsus is 2.3 to 2.8 cm (0.91 to 1.10 in).

 

Habitat of California Towhee

This bird's natural habitat is brush or chaparral, but it adapts well to urban parks and gardens. However, its skulking habits combined with its nondescript appearance mean that it is not one of the better known garden birds even though it is regularly drawn to feeding stations.

Nests are typically found in low branches or shrubs about 0.5 to 4 m (1.6 to 13.1 ft) above ground. The nest is a bulky cup made of twigs, stems, grasses, and hair.

 

Behavior California Towhee

The California towhee feeds on the ground or in low scrub where it prefers a variety of seeds and some insects. It is most often seen traveling or feeding singly or in pairs.

The call consists of a single-note sound that different people hear as seet, cheet, cheenk or peenk and the song consists of a long repeating series ended with a trill.

The female incubates the nest of 2 to 4 eggs alone for 11 days. Eggs are laid from March through September with shells that are slightly glossy and pale bluish white with some brownish flecks concentrated mostly on the larger end. Young leave the nest after 8 days.

California Towhee Images

 

Canyon Towhee

Canyon Towhee

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren

Cassin's Kingbird

Cassin's Kingbird

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Chestnut-Backed Chickadee

Chestnut-Backed Chickadee

Chimney Swift

Chimney Swift

Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

Common Raven

Common Raven

Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll

Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Chipping Sparrow

Usually conspicuous, they may form sizable flocks during the nonbreeding seasons, often mixing with juncos, lark or clay-colored sparrows, pine or palm warblers, or bluebirds. They frequently give their distinctive flight note upon flushing, usually flying up to a tree or other elevated perch to survey the intrusion. Polytypic. Length 5.5" (14 cm).

Identification All feature dark lores, gray nape and cheek, gray unstreaked rump, 2 white wing bars, and lack of a prominent malar stripe. Breeding adult: bright chestnut crown, distinct white eyebrow, black line from bill through eye to ear. Winter adult: browner cheek, dark lores, streaked crown with some rufous color. First-winter: similar to winter adult, but brownish crown; buff-tinged breast and sides. Juvenile: underparts prominently streaked; crown usually lacks rufous; may show slightly streaked rump. Plumage often held into October, especially in western subspecies.

Geographic Variation Seven subspecies (3 in North America) show moderate variation in color and measurements. Nominate eastern subspecies is small and fairly dark, with rich rufous upperparts. Western subspecies include the large, pale arizonae (breeds from Great Plains west) and the fairly small stridula (coastal British Columbia to southern California), which is intermediate in color.

Similar Species Clay-colored and Brewer’s sparrows differ from winter and immature chippings by their pale lores, prominent malar and submousta­chial stripes (particularly clay-colored), and brownish rumps; lack chestnut on the cap. The Brewer’s has a streaked nape and rump, and a duller face pattern with a more distinct eye ring; the clay-colored is typically warmer buff-brown on the breast, especially in fall, and has a broader, pale supercilium and a more strongly contrasting gray nape.
Voice Call: high tsip; sometimes a rapid twitter when excited. Flight note: high, sharp tseet; sharper at beginning of note than Brewer’s or clay-colored’s. Song: rapid trill of dry chip notes, all 1 pitch; speed can vary considerably.

Status and Distribution Common. Occurs south to Nicaragua. Breeding: lawns, parks, gardens, woodland edges, pine-oak forests. Migration: spring mid-March–mid-May; fall late July–early November, peaking September–late October. Rare in winter north of mapped range. Vagrant: casual to western Alaska.
Population Stable. Has largely benefited from human activities, including the clearing of forests and creation of open, grassy parks.

—From the National Geographic book Complete Birds of North America, 2006