Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Breeding Location:

Bushes, shrubs, and thickets, Mountains

Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester

Breeding Population:

Fairly common

Egg Color:

White flecked with brown

Number of Eggs:

2 - 5

Incubation Days:

11 - 13

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Sticks, bark chips, and grass., Line with fine plant materials.

Migration:

Migratory

Overview

Green-tailed Towhee: Large sparrow, olive-green upperparts and pale gray underparts. Crown is rufous, throat is white with black stripes, and bill is gray. Wings and tail are edged with olive-yellow. Rapid bouncy flight, alternates several quick wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

Green-tailed Towhee: Breeds from central Oregon south through mountains to southern California and Great Basin to southeastern New Mexico. Spends winters at lower elevations and south to southern Arizona and central and southern Texas; also migrates to Mexico. Preferred habitats include dry scrublands, primarily scrub oak, mountain mahogany, sagebrush, saltbrush, serviceberry, and pinyon-juniper.

Breeding and Nesting

Green-tailed Towhee: Two to five white eggs flecked with brown are laid in a deep, bulky, thick-walled cup nest made of sticks, bark chips, and grass, and lined with hair and fine plant material. Incubation ranges from 11 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Green-tailed Towhee: Feeds primarily on insects; also eats seeds and berries. Forages on the ground by double-scratching under foliage; drinks morning dew from leaves.

Readily Eats

Cracked Corn, Peanuts, Nut Meats

Vocalization

Green-tailed Towhee: Song is a series of raspy trills "swee-too weet chur cheee-churr." Call is a nasal "meew" or "chink."

Similar Species

Green-tailed Towhee: Olive Sparrow is smaller and has a brown-striped crown.

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Green-tailed Towhee

● Song: "swee-too weet chur cheee-churr"

● Foraging & Feeding: Green-tailed Towhee: Feeds primarily on insects; also eats seeds and berries. Forages on the ground by double-scratching under foliage; drinks morning dew from leaves.

● Breeding & nesting: Green-tailed Towhee: Two to five white eggs flecked with brown are laid in a deep, bulky, thick-walled cup nest made of sticks, bark chips, and grass, and lined with hair and fine plant material. Incubation ranges from 11 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Green-tailed Towhee: Olive Sparrow is smaller and has a brown-striped crown.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides., Rapid bouncy flight.

Green-tailed Towhee Breeding Male Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Green-tailed Towhee: Breeds from central Oregon south through mountains to southern California and Great Basin to southeastern New Mexico. Spends winters at lower elevations and south to southern Arizona and central and southern Texas; also migrates to Mexico. Preferred habitats include dry scrublands, primarily scrub oak, mountain mahogany, sagebrush, saltbrush, serviceberry, and pinyon-juniper.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight1 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America