Abert’s Towhee or Canyon Towhee ?

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Call

Audio by Richard E. Webster

There's more to learn about Abert’s Towhee

Canyon Towhee

Melozone fusca

How to recognise a canyon towhee?

General appearance

The canyon towhee is a medium-sized sparrow with a stocky build, measuring about 8-10 inches in length. It has a grayish-brown body with a slightly reddish tinge on the cap and undertail coverts. The bird's face is marked by a light mustache stripe and a subtle outline around the eye. Its wings and tail are relatively plain, and its overall plumage is designed to blend into its arid, scrubby habitat.

Male vs female

There is little to no sexual dimorphism in canyon towhees, meaning males and females have similar appearances. Both sexes exhibit the same gray-brown coloration with reddish undertail coverts. As a result, visual identification based on sex is challenging in this species.

Juvenile

Juvenile canyon towhees resemble adults but are typically duller in color with less distinct markings. They often have streaks on their underparts and may lack the more defined reddish tint found in adults. As they mature, their plumage becomes more refined and similar to the adult pattern.

Size

8.3 - 9.8 in/1.3 - 1.8 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The canyon towhee prefers brushy areas, chaparral, desert foothills, and canyons. It typically resides in pinyon-juniper woodlands and on dry hillsides.

Additional range

Additional habitats of the canyon towhee may comprise grasslands with cholla, mesquite, and scrub oak thickets. It avoids forest and open desert areas.

Range Map

What do canyon towhees like to eat?

Natural diet

The canyon towhee's diet consists mainly of seeds and insects. In winter, the bird primarily consumes seeds, while in summer, it eats more insects. The young are fed almost entirely on insects. The towhee may also eat some berries and small fruits occasionally.

Bird feeders

Canyon towhees are not the most common birds at feeders, but they may visit to consume seeds. They are likely to be attracted to ground feeders or areas where seeds are scattered on the ground.

What does a canyon towhee sound like?

The canyon towhee's vocalizations are distinct and unique, characteristically defined as a musical chili-chili-chili-chili. Its calls are crisp and clear, often described as a 'chud-up'. The bird's calling pattern is flat with slight undulations. The type of sounds it produces falls under the category of chirp or chip.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

There's more to learn about Canyon Towhee

Abert’s Towhee

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Canyon Towhee

Abert’s Towhee

Melozone aberti

General appearance

Abert's Towhee is a medium-sized bird with a robust body and long tail. Its plumage is mostly gray-brown with a distinctive black face and pale pinkish-brown underparts. The wings and tail are a slightly darker shade, offering a subtle contrast.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in coloration and size. Both exhibit the same general color pattern, including the black facial mask and pinkish undertones. Any minor differences are typically not discernible in the field, making gender identification based on appearance challenging.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble adults but lack the clear black facial pattern. Their overall color is duller, especially on the underparts, and they may show faint streaking. As they mature, their plumage gradually darkens and the black face markings develop.

Size

8.3 - 9.1 in/1.4 - 1.9 oz

There's more to learn about Abert’s Towhee

Canyon Towhee

Melozone fusca

General appearance

The canyon towhee is a medium-sized sparrow with a stocky build, measuring about 8-10 inches in length. It has a grayish-brown body with a slightly reddish tinge on the cap and undertail coverts. The bird's face is marked by a light mustache stripe and a subtle outline around the eye. Its wings and tail are relatively plain, and its overall plumage is designed to blend into its arid, scrubby habitat.

Male vs female

There is little to no sexual dimorphism in canyon towhees, meaning males and females have similar appearances. Both sexes exhibit the same gray-brown coloration with reddish undertail coverts. As a result, visual identification based on sex is challenging in this species.

Juvenile

Juvenile canyon towhees resemble adults but are typically duller in color with less distinct markings. They often have streaks on their underparts and may lack the more defined reddish tint found in adults. As they mature, their plumage becomes more refined and similar to the adult pattern.

Size

8.3 - 9.8 in/1.3 - 1.8 oz

There's more to learn about Canyon Towhee

How to tell the Abert’s Towhee from the Canyon Towhee

Visual differences

Abert's Towhee and Canyon Towhee are medium-sized birds with subtle differences. Abert's Towhee (8.3-9 in, 1.4-1.9 oz) has a robust body, gray-brown plumage, distinctive black face, and pale pinkish-brown underparts. Canyon Towhee (8-10 in, 1.3-1.8 oz) features a grayish-brown body with reddish undertail coverts and a light mustache stripe. While Abert's has a darker facial mask, the Canyon sports a slight reddish tinge on its cap. Both species lack noticeable sexual dimorphism. The Canyon is more reddish and blends into its habitat, while Abert's has more distinctive facial markings.

Key differences and behavior

Abert's Towhee and Canyon Towhee exhibit distinct behavioral and habitat preferences. Abert's Towhee thrives in dense, brushy areas near water sources like streams and suburban areas, whereas Canyon Towhee favors arid, scrubby environments such as chaparral and dry hillsides. In terms of breeding, Abert's Towhees form permanent pairs and are territorial, nesting in dense shrubs, often near water, while Canyon Towhees, also forming lifelong bonds, nest higher up in trees or cacti in dry areas and are less aggressive in territorial defense. Abert's Towhee's diet is insect-heavy, especially in summer, supplementing with seeds, while Canyon Towhee adjusts its diet seasonally, eating more seeds in winter and insects in summer. Both species are infrequent visitors to bird feeders but may consume seeds. Abert's Towhee is commonly found on the ground in dense foliage, offering a unique identification challenge compared to the more visible Canyon Towhee.

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