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Canyon Towhee

Pipilo fuscusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)
Canyon Towhee Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Cone
  • Eye Color: From brown to light brown to dull hazel.
  • Head Pattern: Capped, Plain
  • Crown Color: Red-brown
  • Forehead Color: Red-brown
  • Nape Color: Gray
  • Throat Color: Buff with brown streaking.
  • Cere color: No Data
Canyon Towhee Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 20 cm (8 in)
  • Weight: 45 g (1.6 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: White, Gray, Rufous or Rust
  • Underparts: Buff with brown streaking and white belly patch.
  • Upperparts: Gray
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: No Data
Canyon Towhee Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
  • Wingspan Range: 28-29 cm (11-11.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Dark Brown
  • Under Tail: Dark Brown
  • Leg Color: Pink-brown
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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Pipilo fuscus
Length8 Inches
Wingspan11.25 Inches

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.
Canyon Towhee Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Canyon Towhee: Found in Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, Colorado and Mexico. Prefers dry hill country and desert canyons.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester, Mates for life
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight1.6 Ounces