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Abert's Towhee

Pipilo abertiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Abert's Towhee Portrait_2
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General

Abert's Towhee: Large, stocky, secretive sparrow with distinct black face, pale gray bill, gray-brown upperparts, paler gray-brown underparts and rust-brown vent. Tail is long and darker than upperparts with rust-brown undertail coverts. Sexes are similar. Juvenile underparts are paler, duller, and faintly streaked. May be difficult to spot because it perfers to stay well-hidden under bushes.

Range and Habitat

Abert's Towhee: Found primarily in the Colorado and Gila River valleys in Arizona and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. Generally prefers desert riparian and desert wash habitats. Preferred habitat includes dense vegetation, including thickets of willow, cottonwood, mesquite, and saltcedar; also found in cities or suburbs in exotic plantings.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"chip, chip, chip, chip, chip, chee, chee, chee, chee, chee"

Interesting Facts

  • The Abert's Towhee has one of the smallest total distributions of any U.S. birds species, making it much sought after by birders who travel to the Southwest desert to observe it.
  • They are an inconspicuous bird because they forage in thick undergrowth and rarely fly any great distance.
  • They are threatened by cowbird nest parasitism and habitat loss, although some have successfully colonized suburban environments in the Phoenix, Arizona area. They may also be seen on the campus of Arizona State University.
  • A group of towhees are collectively known as a "tangle" and a "teapot" of towhees.
  • blargh


Author

Crystal Adams

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Range Map for Abert's Towhee
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Pipilo aberti
Length9.5 Inches
Wingspan12.5 Inches

Abert's Towhee

Abert's Towhee: Large, stocky, shy sparrow. Distinct black face, pale gray bill, gray-brown upperparts, paler gray-brown underparts, and rust-brown vent. Tail is long and darker than upperparts with rust-brown undertail coverts. Short flights, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides. May be difficult to spot because it prefers to stay well-hidden under bushes.

● Song: "chip, chip, chip, chip, chip, chee, chee, chee, chee, chee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Abert's Towhee: Eats seeds and insects. Scratches in litter and gleans from the ground and shrubs, often in shade.

● Breeding & nesting: Abert's Towhee: Two to five blue white eggs with dark brown speckles are laid in a nest made of forbs, bark pieces, leaves, and vines lined with dead grass and mammal hair. Nest is built in tree or bush, usually 25 to 30 feet above the ground. Female incubates eggs for about 14 days.

● Similar species: Abert's Towhee: Canyon Towhee inhabits different range, has gray upperparts, face, and sides, chestnut-brown cap, dark breast spot, necklace of dark streaks, pale chin and throat, and white belly. California Towhee is browner overall with paler chin and throat, gray necklace, and pale eye-ring.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
Abert's Towhee Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: Abert's Towhee: Found primarily in the Colorado and Gila River valleys in Arizona and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. Generally prefers desert riparian and desert wash habitats. Preferred habitat includes dense vegetation, including thickets of willow, cottonwood, mesquite, and saltcedar; also found in cities or suburbs in exotic plantings.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight1.7 Ounces