Canyon Towhee, Melozone fusca

Canyon Towhee, Melozone fusca. Photograph taken within a residential community in Alamos, Sonora, November 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.

Canyon Towhee, Melozone fusca. Bird photographed in the greater Mexico City area, March 2021. Photograph and identification courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background and Identification

The Canyon Towhee, Melozone fusca, is one of ten subspecies of Canyon Towhee, nine of which are found in Mexico. They are a member of the Passerellidae Family of New World Sparrows, which has one hundred thirty-two members placed in thirty genera, and is one of three global species of the Melozone Genus. They primarily consume insects and small seeds. They have life spans of up to seven years. The Canyon Towhee has been the subject of numerous studies over the last forty years, however, very little has been documented about their biology and behavioral patterns. Historically, the Canyon Towhee and California Towhee (mentioned below in “common misidentifications”) were once considered the same species and named the Brown Towhee. Mitochondrial DNA provided the evidence needed to split the two species. They are known in Mexico as Toquí Pardo.

The Canyon Towhee is sparrow-shaped and large in stature. They are a sexually monomorphic species, males and females have similar physical characteristics and the same average sizes. They are brown with a rufous crown, light throat outlined ventrally with darker markings, a dark crest spot, and buff under tail-covert. Their bill has a dusky mandible with a pale brown lower section and is pale at the base; their iris is light brown to dull hazel, and their legs are light brown or pinkish with darker toes.

Habitat and Geographical Range

The Canyon Towhee is primarily found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its range extends from the arid regions of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, down into central Mexico. This species prefers dry, scrubby habitats, including desert foothills, rocky canyons, chaparral, and open woodlands. It can also be found in areas with human activity, such as gardens, parks, and suburban neighborhoods. They inhabit areas in elevations up to 2,500 m (8,200 feet). They are permanent residents within their geographical range.

The Canyon Towhee is primarily found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its range extends from the arid regions of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, down into central Mexico. In Mexico, the Canyon Towhee is found in all interior regions south of Oaxaca, but is absent from the coastal regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Slopes.

Common Misidentifications

The Canyon Towhee is sometimes confused with the similar-looking California Towhee, Melozone crissalis, especially in areas where their ranges overlap. However, the California Towhee is slightly larger, has a more uniform brown color without the reddish crown, and lacks the rufous undertail coverts of the Canyon Towhee. Another species that may be mistaken for the Canyon Towhee is Abert’s Towhee, Melozone aberti, which shares a similar habitat and physical characteristics. Abert’s Towhee is also brown but has a more pronounced face pattern with a blackish mask and a brighter rufous color on the undertail coverts.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective the Canyon Towhee is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. Their populations do not appear to be strongly affected by habitat destruction by human development. They are known to visit bird feeders frequently and thrive in urban areas.