California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
The California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) is a common new world sparrow found in 2 countries, weighing about 53 g. The California towhee is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California and Baja California Sur in Mexico.
About the California Towhee
The California towhee is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California and Baja California Sur in Mexico.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The California towhee's coloring is dull brown overall with light rust undertail covert feathers and buff or rust-colored streaks at the throat. There is little sexual dimorphism. California towhees have the short, rounded wings of a sparrow, as well as a long tail and a thick beak which is used for cracking seeds. However, the towhees are larger and bulkier than sparrows. Both sexes of towhee generally grow to be 8.3–9.8 in (21–25 cm) in length, with a wingspan of about 11.4 in (29 cm). They weigh 1.3–2.4 oz (37–68 g).
What the California Towhee sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The California Towhee can be seen all year round, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a California Towhee?
- The California towhee's coloring is dull brown overall with light rust undertail covert feathers and buff or rust-colored streaks at the throat. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a California Towhee?
- The California Towhee is a small sized bird weighing about 53 g.
- Where can you see a California Towhee?
- The California Towhee occurs in 2 countries, including the United States and Mexico.
- What does a California Towhee sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the California Towhee on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a California Towhee?
- The California Towhee is most easily confused with the Abert's Towhee, the Canyon Towhee and the White-eared Ground Sparrow.
- Is the California Towhee endangered?
- The California Towhee is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the California Towhee for real
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