Bird Guide

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

Least ConcernOmnivoreShrublandCup nestSmall · 29 g

About the Green-tailed Towhee

The green-tailed towhee is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found in the western United States and much of Mexico.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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The green-tailed towhee is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs on average about 29 g (1.0 oz). Though the sexes have essentially the same plumage, females tend to be slightly duller than males. Adults have a reddish brown crown, a white spot above the lores, and a white "moustache" and throat on an otherwise gray head. Their hindneck, back, and scapulars are yellowish olive with grayish olive edges on the feathers. Their rump and uppertail coverts are grayish olive. Their tail is mostly greenish to yellow-green with olive brown edges on most feathers. Voice: One description of the green-tailed towhee's song is a "very high varied tjip drip threeeeh witwitwit- ending in a fast rattle". Another calls it a "series of clear, whistled notes, preceded by a rather drawn-out weet-chur and ending with a raspy trill". The species also makes a "catlike ascending meeoow.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Green-tailed Towhee lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Cuba.

When to see the Green-tailed Towhee

Peak activity in May · a variable species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Eastern Towhee vs Green-tailed Towhee · Green-tailed Towhee vs Spotted Towhee

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