Birds Active during the day

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

With its vibrant rufous cap and olive-green wings, the Green-tailed Towhee is a hidden gem of the Western brushlands. This energetic ground-dweller is famous for its unique 'double-scratch' dance and melodic, buzzy song.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 7.1-8.3 in (18-21 cm); Wingspan: approx. 10 in (25 cm); Weight: 1.0-1.3 oz (28-38 g)

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Colors

Gray body with a distinctive reddish-brown (rufous) crown, a bright white throat patch, and olive-green wings and tail.

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Key Features

Bright rufous (reddish-brown) crown
Striking white throat patch bordered by dark 'mustache' stripes
Vibrant olive-green wings and long tail
Slate-gray chest and underparts

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 4-7 PM

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Season May-August (breeding) or Year-round in the Southwest

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Diet Omnivorous ground-forager eating seeds, berries, and various insects like beetles, ants, and grasshoppers.

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Habitat Montane shrublands, sagebrush flats, chaparral, and brushy forest edges.

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Where Does the Green-tailed Towhee Live?

This bird is a native specialist of the Western North American interior, primarily breeding in the mountainous regions of the United States from the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains. Its core range spans from eastern Washington and Oregon down through California, Nevada, and into New Mexico. As a migratory species, it travels south for the winter to inhabit the desert scrub landscapes of the Southwestern United States and throughout the Mexican plateau, where it remains common until the spring thaw.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

1.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States MX Mexico

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Green-tailed Towhee is the smallest of the towhees and is often characterized by its secretive yet energetic nature. It is most famous for its 'double-scratch' foraging technique, a rhythmic movement where the bird hops forward and then immediately kicks both feet backward to clear away leaf litter and soil in search of food. While they spend much of their time hidden in the shadows of dense brush, they are quite active and can be seen darting between shrubs with a characteristic springy hop.

During the breeding season, the males become much more visible, often perching on the highest branch of a sagebrush or mountain mahogany to belt out a series of complex, buzzy whistles. To humans, they are a charming presence, though they are easily spooked. Unlike some more urbanized sparrows, they tend to stay close to thick cover and will dive headfirst into the undergrowth if they perceive a threat, making them a rewarding challenge for backyard wildlife observers.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of a Green-tailed Towhee, you must focus on the ground. These birds are terrestrial specialists that rarely venture high into the canopy. Mount your AI-powered camera 6 to 12 inches above the ground, ideally aimed at a small clearing right at the edge of a thicket or hedge. This 'edge' zone provides them with the security they need to venture into the view of your lens while staying close to cover.

Water is the single most effective lure for this species, especially in the arid Western climates they inhabit. Use a very shallow ground-level birdbath or a simple saucer of water with a flat rock in the middle for a perch. Position the camera about 3 to 5 feet from the water source to ensure the bird fills the frame without being too close for the lens to focus. If you are using seed as a lure, avoid hanging feeders; instead, scatter a mix of white proso millet and sunflower hearts directly on the ground in a designated 'stage' area in front of the camera.

Because of their quick, jerky 'double-scratch' movements, it is vital to use a fast trigger speed. Set your camera to take 3-photo bursts or 10-second video clips to capture the full range of their behavior. The best lighting occurs in the early morning shortly after sunrise, which coincides with their peak foraging activity. During the summer, ensure your camera is positioned to avoid direct lens flare from the low-angle sun, as these birds will be most active when the light is most dramatic.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Green-tailed Towhee.

Spotted Towhee

Lacks the green plumage and rufous crown; features a black head and back with white spotting and rufous sides.

Canyon Towhee

A larger, more uniformly brown bird that lacks the bright green wings and contrasting white throat patch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active during the early morning hours, typically from sunrise until about 10:00 AM, and again in the late afternoon before dusk. This is when they are most likely to forage in the open or sing from shrub tops.

Provide ground-level water features and maintain native shrubs for cover. Scattering birdseed or millet directly on the ground near bushes is far more effective than using hanging feeders for this species.

Their diet is a mix of insects and seeds. They forage for beetles, grasshoppers, and ants during the summer and rely more heavily on seeds from grasses and shrubs during the winter months.

They are common in suburban areas that border natural canyons, mountain foothills, or chaparral in the Western U.S., particularly if those yards offer plenty of low-growing shrubbery.

The Green-tailed Towhee is smaller and has a bright rufous crown and olive-green wings. The Spotted Towhee has a black head and back with white spotting and bright orange-red flanks.

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