Field Guide to Birds of North America
Canyon Towhee
General
Canyon Towhee: Large sparrow with gray upperparts, pale gray underparts, a large central breast spot, and white belly patch. Crown is rust-brown. Tail is long with brown undertail coverts. Sexes are similar.
Range and Habitat
Canyon Towhee: Found in Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, Colorado and Mexico. Prefers dry hill country and desert canyons.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"chili, chili, chili, chili"
Interesting Facts
The Canyon Towhee feeds on insects on the grills of cars and will hide under the cars when disturbed.
A group of towhees are collectively known as a "tangle" and a "teapot" of towhees.
Author
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Family
Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
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Species
Pipilo fuscus
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Length8
Inches
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Wingspan11.25
Inches
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Canyon Towhee
Canyon Towhee: Large sparrow, gray upperparts, pale gray underparts, large central breast spot, and white belly patch. Crown is rust-brown. Tail is long with brown undertail coverts. Legs are pink-brown. Short flights with rapidly beating wing strokes alternating with wings pulled briefly to sides.
● Song: "chili, chili, chili, chili"
● Foraging & Feeding: Canyon Towhee: Eats seeds and insects. Forages by double-scratching on the ground in soil or leaf litter.
● Breeding & nesting: Canyon Towhee: Two to six light green or blue eggs with brown and black markings are laid in a cup nest made of stems, grass, and sticks, lined with leaves, bark pieces, and mammal hair, and built in a shrub or tree, usually 3 to 12 feet above the ground. Eggs are incubated for 11 days by the female.
● Similar species: Canyon Towhee: California Towhee has rust-brown crown and grayer upperparts. Abert's Towhee is buff and has black area around bill.
Flight Pattern
Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
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BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester, Mates for life
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Population
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MigrationNonmigratory
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Weight1.6
Ounces
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