Green-tailed Towhee

Overview

Green-tailed Towhee: Large sparrow, olive-green upperparts and pale gray underparts. Crown is rufous, throat is white with black stripes, and bill is gray. Wings and tail are edged with olive-yellow. Rapid bouncy flight, alternates several quick wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

Green-tailed Towhee: Breeds from central Oregon south through mountains to southern California and Great Basin to southeastern New Mexico. Winters at lower elevations and south to southern Arizona and central and southern Texas; also migrates to Mexico. Prefers dry scrublands, primarily scrub oak, mountain mahogany, sagebru

INTERESTING FACTS

The Green-tailed Towhee is the only entirely migratory towhee. It is also the smallest towhee.
Their scientific name roughly translates to “colorful chirper,” and their common name attests to the bright yellow-green of their tail.
A group of towhees are collectively known as a "tangle" and a "teapot" of towhees.

The Green-tailed Towhee has a large range, estimated globally at 1,700,000 square kilometers. Native to North America and Cuba, this bird prefers forest and shrubland ecosystems. The population is estimated to be 4,100,000 individuals globally and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. Because of this the evaluation status of the Green-tailed Towhee is Least Concern.