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(genus change) |
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| − | ;[[:Category: | + | ;[[:Category:Melozone|Melozone]] crissalis |
| − | '' | + | ''Pipilo crissalis'' |
[[Image:California_Towhee.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Leslie|Leslie}}<br />Newbury Park, [[California]], January 2004]] | [[Image:California_Towhee.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Leslie|Leslie}}<br />Newbury Park, [[California]], January 2004]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
Eight subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>: | Eight subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>: | ||
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. bullatus'': Semi-arid south-western [[Oregon]] and extreme north-central [[California]] |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. carolae'': Interior California (Humboldt County to Kern County) |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. petulans '': Coastal northern California (Humboldt County to Santa Cruz County) |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. crissalis'': Coastal central California (northern Monterey to Kern and Ventura counties) |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. eremophilus'': East-central California (Argus Mountains and north-western San Bernardino County) |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. senicula'': Coastal southern California (Los Angeles County) and north-western [[Baja California]] |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. aripolius'': Central Baja California (latitude 29°N to 26°30'N) |
| − | *'' | + | *''M. c. albigula'': Cape district of southern Baja California |
An additional subspecies ''wrangeli'' is generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>. | An additional subspecies ''wrangeli'' is generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch| | + | {{GSearch|California+Towhee}} |
| − | [[Category:Birds]][[Category: | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Melozone]] |
Revision as of 08:47, 24 April 2011
- Melozone crissalis
Pipilo crissalis
Identification
A drab, chunky, long-tailed bird of dense thickets. Both this species and its close relative the Canyon Towhee have reddish-brown undertail coverts. The California Towhee can be separated by the additional reddish-brown color on the bird's face and the faint streaking on the breast. (The Canyon Towhee has a paler face pattern with more contrast and darker spots on the breast.)
Distribution
Southern Oregon, California, and Baja California in Mexico.
Taxonomy
AOU have moved this species to genus Melozone; the opus is awaiting the position of the world-wide checklists before following along.
Formerly considered conspecific with the Canyon Towhee under the name Brown Towhee.
Subspecies[1]
Eight subspecies are recognized1:
- M. c. bullatus: Semi-arid south-western Oregon and extreme north-central California
- M. c. carolae: Interior California (Humboldt County to Kern County)
- M. c. petulans : Coastal northern California (Humboldt County to Santa Cruz County)
- M. c. crissalis: Coastal central California (northern Monterey to Kern and Ventura counties)
- M. c. eremophilus: East-central California (Argus Mountains and north-western San Bernardino County)
- M. c. senicula: Coastal southern California (Los Angeles County) and north-western Baja California
- M. c. aripolius: Central Baja California (latitude 29°N to 26°30'N)
- M. c. albigula: Cape district of southern Baja California
An additional subspecies wrangeli is generally considered invalid3.
Habitat
Dense thickets, especially near water. The California Towhee has greater tolerance for human disturbance than the Spotted Towhee and will nest in built-up areas where bushes and ground cover are present.
Behaviour
Forages in leaf litter. The bird can often be heard scratching among the leaves long before it is visible.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) California Towhee. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/California_Towhee
