Melozone fusca
The Canyon Towhee (Melozone fusca), a denizen of the arid and semi-arid landscapes of the American Southwest and Mexico, is a medium-sized sparrow-like bird, measuring about 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) in length with a wingspan of 28-33 cm (11-13 inches) and weighing 35-65 grams (1.2-2.3 ounces). Its plumage is largely a uniform dull grayish-brown on the upperparts, contrasting with warm buff or rufous undertail coverts and a distinctive, finely streaked throat pattern surrounding a small, often i...
Canyon Towhees inhabit arid and semi-arid regions, primarily found in rocky canyons, washes, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and mesquite thickets, often at elevations ranging from near sea level up to 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).
Primarily insectivorous and granivorous, the Canyon Towhee feeds on a variety of insects and other invertebrates, along with seeds from grasses and shrubs, and occasionally small fruits or berries. They mainly forage by scratching and pecking at the ground.
Highly diurnal, the Canyon Towhee spends most of its active hours on the ground, often hidden beneath dense shrubs, emerging primarily to forage or sing from a low perch. Its characteristic foraging technique involves a two-footed backward scratch, vigorously digging through leaf litter and loose...
The Canyon Towhee is a widespread and resident species found throughout much of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its northern limit extends into southeastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas, and the Oklahoma panhandle, westward through much of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and extreme southe...
Least Concern
- Often confused with its close relative, the California Towhee, but their ranges generally do not overlap significantly, and their songs are distinct. - They employ a distinctive two-footed backward scratch to uncover food, a technique common among towhees. - Despite their dull plumage, they are...