Birds Active during the day

California Towhee

Melozone crissalis

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The California Towhee is the loyal guardian of the Western garden. Known for its rich cinnamon accents and rhythmic ground-scratching, this chunky sparrow is a year-round delight for backyard birders.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in); Wingspan: 29 cm (11.4 in); Weight: 37-67 g (1.3-2.4 oz)

palette

Colors

Uniform matte dusty-brown body; rich cinnamon or rusty-orange patch under the tail (crissum) and around the base of the beak. Males and females are identical.

visibility

Key Features

Long, rounded tail
Dull matte-brown plumage with rusty undertail
Thick, conical sparrow beak
Large, chunky body for a sparrow

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours 6-10 AM, 4-7 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet Primarily seeds and small fruits, supplemented by insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders, especially during the breeding season.

park

Habitat Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, and landscaped suburban gardens with dense shrubbery.

public Geographic range

Where Does the California Towhee Live?

Native to the western edge of North America, the California Towhee is found from southwestern Oregon through the coastal and interior valleys of California. Its range continues south into the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. It is a highly sedentary species, meaning it is a permanent resident that rarely travels more than a few miles from where it hatched, making it a reliable neighbor for backyard observers.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

650K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States MX Mexico

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 2,000 m

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Birds arrow_forward

Behavior

California Towhees are the quintessential "backyard birds" of the West Coast. While they lack the flashy colors of some songbirds, they make up for it with a bold, curious personality. They are primarily ground-dwellers, spending the vast majority of their time hopping through leaf litter or across suburban lawns. They are famously monogamous, with pairs often staying together year-round for several years, frequently seen foraging just a few feet apart and keeping in contact with sharp, metallic "chink" calls.

One of their most distinctive behaviors is the "double-scratch" foraging maneuver. To find food, the bird jumps forward and then kicks both feet backward simultaneously, clearing away dirt and leaves to reveal hidden seeds or insects. While they are relatively comfortable around human activity, they are highly territorial and will vigorously defend their patch of scrub or garden from other towhees, sometimes even attacking their own reflection in windows or car mirrors.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of a California Towhee, place your AI-powered camera low to the ground—ideally between 6 to 12 inches high. Since these birds are dedicated ground-foragers, a camera mounted on a high fence post looking down often misses the charming "double-scratch" behavior. Aim the lens toward the edge of a garden bed or underneath the canopy of a large shrub where the soil is moist or covered in mulch.

Using a ground-level tray feeder or simply scattering a handful of white proso millet or cracked corn on a flat stone will almost certainly bring them into view. They are creatures of habit; if they find a reliable food source, they will return to it at almost the same time every day. For the best lighting, position your camera facing North or South to avoid the harsh glare of the sun, which can wash out their subtle brown tones and make them look like silhouettes.

Because they are active year-round and do not migrate, you can get consistent results in any season. During the spring nesting season (March through June), they become much more vocal. Setting your camera to record video with high-quality audio will allow you to capture their metallic alarm calls and their unique accelerating, trilling song. If you have a birdbath, place the camera nearby; Towhees are frequent and enthusiastic bathers, providing excellent "action" shots when they splash.

Ensure your camera's motion sensitivity is set to a medium-to-high level. Because Towhees move in quick, jerky hops and can be surprisingly fast when they dart back into cover, a higher sensitivity ensures the shutter triggers before the bird leaves the frame. If your camera offers a "pre-roll" feature, enable it to catch the moment they fly down from a branch to start their ground-level patrol.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with California Towhee.

Canyon Towhee

Nearly identical but found in interior deserts; has a paler breast with a small dark 'stickpin' spot in the center.

Spotted Towhee

Much flashier with a black head, white spots on the wings, and bright orange flanks.

Abert's Towhee

Found in desert riparian areas; has a distinctive black 'mask' around the base of the beak.

Browse all Birds arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

California Towhees are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. You will see them most frequently during the early morning hours just after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk as they forage for their final meals of the day.

The best way to attract them is to provide dense cover, such as hedges or large shrubs, and to offer food on the ground. They love millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds scattered near the edges of bushes where they feel safe.

Their diet consists mostly of seeds from weeds and grasses, along with small fruits and berries. During the summer, they also eat a significant amount of insects like beetles and caterpillars to provide protein for their chicks.

Yes, they are exceptionally common in suburbs across California and Oregon. They have adapted well to human landscaping, often preferring a mix of open lawn and thick garden shrubbery over wild chaparral.

California Towhees are found near the coast and central valleys, while Canyon Towhees live in the interior deserts and Rockies. Visually, the California Towhee has a darker, more uniform brown breast, whereas the Canyon Towhee has a paler chest with a small dark central spot.

Record California Towhee at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo