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ShrublandCup nestSmall · 53 g
What the California Towhee sounds like
ID tip
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).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the California Towhee
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.
Where to see the California Towhee
The map shades 2 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
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.
Easily confused with
Abert's TowheeMelozone abertiAbert's towhee is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to a small range in southwestern North America, generally the lower Colorado River and Gila River watersheds, nearly endemic to Arizona, but also present in small parts of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Sonora in Mexico.
Canyon TowheeMelozone fuscaIt is 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in) long, and has a noticeably long tail, at 8.2 to 11 cm (3.2 to 4.3 in).
White-eared Ground SparrowMelozone leucotisThe white-eared ground sparrow is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs about 42 g (1.5 oz).
Side by side: American Tree Sparrow vs California Towhee · California Towhee vs Fox Sparrow · California Towhee vs Canyon Towhee · California Towhee vs White-eared Ground Sparrow
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