California towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Identification Tips:
- Length: 7.25? inches
- Conical bill
- Dark eye
- Brown crown
- Buffy throat
- Black ring of spots on breast
- Pale gray underparts
- Brown upperparts
- Rusty undertail coverts
- Long tail
- Juvenile (Spring to Fall) heavily streaked below
- Formerly conspecific with Canyon Towhee
Similar species:
The Canyon Towhee is similar to the California Towhee but has a rusty
crown and grayer upperparts. Abert's Towhee is buffier and has a black area
around the bill.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.