Pipilo ocai
The Collared Towhee, *Pipilo ocai*, is a strikingly marked and often elusive songbird endemic to the montane regions of Mexico. Averaging 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length and weighing 40-50 grams, its most distinctive feature is a broad chestnut collar that contrasts sharply with its glossy black head. The back is a deep olive-green, transitioning to rufous-chestnut flanks, a white belly, and a prominent red eye. This striking coloration, particularly the collar, is a key field mark for id...
Found in humid montane pine-oak and cloud forests with dense understory, typically at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 meters (5,000 to 11,500 feet).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on beetles, ants, and other invertebrates, supplemented by seeds, berries, and small fruits. Foraging occurs mainly on the ground by scratching through leaf litter.
Collared Towhees are primarily diurnal, spending much of their time foraging on the forest floor, where they employ the characteristic "double-scratch" method to uncover food from leaf litter. Though often solitary or found in pairs, they are typically secretive, frequently heard but rarely seen ...
The Collared Towhee is resident throughout the central and southern highlands of Mexico. Its primary distribution follows the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, extending south through the Sierra Madre del Sur in Oaxaca and into the highlands of Chiapas. This species is non-migratory, maintaining a sta...
Least Concern
- The Collared Towhee is endemic to the high-elevation forests of Mexico, found nowhere else in the world. - Its striking chestnut collar is a unique plumage feature among North American towhees, making it easily identifiable. - Despite its relatively common status within its range, its secretive...