Pipilo chlorurus
The Green-tailed Towhee, *Pipilo chlorurus*, is a striking member of the New World sparrow family (Passerellidae), often considered a bridge between typical towhees and sparrows due to its relatively slender build and softer coloration. Measuring 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length with a wingspan of 25-28 cm (9.8-11 inches) and weighing 26-38 grams (0.9-1.3 oz), this medium-sized songbird is readily identified by its distinctive olive-green tail and back, a bright rufous cap, and a crisp whi...
Found primarily in dense, high-elevation shrublands, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and sagebrush steppe, often at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 feet during the breeding season.
Mainly insectivorous during the breeding season, consuming beetles, ants, caterpillars, and spiders; supplements with seeds and some berries, especially during winter.
Green-tailed Towhees are primarily diurnal, spending much of their active time foraging on the ground or in low shrubs. They employ a characteristic 'double-scratch' method, kicking backward with both feet simultaneously to uncover insects and seeds. During the breeding season, males are highly t...
The Green-tailed Towhee breeds across the mountainous and high-desert regions of the western United States, extending from southern Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, south through Colorado, Utah, Nevada, eastern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. During this period, it favors elevations typically ab...
Least Concern
- The Green-tailed Towhee is the only towhee species in North America that lacks any black in its plumage, distinguishing it from other *Pipilo* species. - Its distinctive 'mew' call is often the first clue to its presence, sounding remarkably like a cat. - Despite being a 'towhee,' its overall a...