Green-tailed Towhee
NameGreen-tailed Towhee
Common NameGreen-tailed Towhee
Scientific NamePipilo chlorurus
FamilyPasserellidae
Wingspan (cm)21.5
Length (cm)17.5
Weight (g)31.5
Plumage DetailsAdults have a striking rusty-red cap, a gray face, throat, and breast, and a prominent white malar stripe. The back, wings, and tail are olive-green, contrasting with a whitish belly.
Vocalization / CallIts most common call is a distinctive, cat-like 'mew' or 'churrr'. The song is a complex, varied series of trills, buzzes, and whistles, often starting with a clear note.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain, desert, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in mountainous shrublands of the western United States, from Washington to California, and east to Colorado and New Mexico. Winters in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico.
Identifying Featuresrusty-red cap, gray head and breast, white malar stripe, olive-green back and tail, ground-foraging behavior
Description
The Green-tailed Towhee is a shy, ground-foraging sparrow of western North America, easily identified by its distinctive rusty-red cap. It typically inhabits dense shrublands and chaparral, often heard before it is seen.
