Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
Compiled by Lindsey Hernandez
Photo by Alan D. Wilson
Canyon Towhee, although originally described as a separate species, was later lumped with California Towhee (P. crissalis) as the “Brown Towhee.” These two species were finally separated during the atlas field work period. The Canyon Towhee has a faint rusty cap, is slightly paler overall, and barely smaller than the California Towhee. Canyon usually shows a spotty necklace, central breast spot, and whitish belly. They have warm rusty undertail coverts, a buffy throat and a hint of a reddish crown. Male and female have the same coloring.
The Canyon Towhee is the most versatile of all Towhees. It exhibits wide geographic and ecological amplitude although you will not find them in heavily populated urban areas or wet riparian forests. They like open, arid scrub with scattered brush. Canyon Towhee inhabits the Desert Southwest east of California. The canyon towhee is a ground-dwelling bird that runs away from danger rather than flying away.
The Canyon Towhee consumes mostly seeds and gravel. They swallow gravel daily to grind the seeds in their stomach to aid digestion. The Canyon Towhee looks for food using the “double-scratch” technique. This technique is characterized by jumping up and kicking both feet back simultaneously.
Canyon Towhees scurry along the ground from one bush to another. Males perch atop short shrubs and cacti to sing in the breeding season. Canyon Towhees favor desert grasslands with scattered dense shrubs, rocky terrain, dry watercourses with mesquite, and other dry, scrubby areas. Unlike California Towhees, they shy away from suburban neighborhoods, favoring sparsely settled and remote areas.
The bird likes to feed on the ground and may also come to platform feeders. They are among the few birds that readily take milo (sorghum); they also eat millet and black-oil sunflower seeds. Landscaping your yard with low-growing, native shrubs and grasses will provide cover and possible nest sites for Canyon Towhees.
Sources include: All About Birds, Texas Breeding Bird Atlas, Bird Watcher’s Digest
