Abert’s Towhee, Melozone aberti

Abert’s Towhee, Melozone aberti. Photograph taken within the greater Palm Springs area of southern California, March 2021. Photography courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

Background and Identification

Resembling finches and sparrows (towhees are distinguished by their longer tail), Abert’s Towhee is also known as the Brown Towhee, California Towhee, Canyon Towhee, and White-throated Towhee. Recent gene analysis of this species suggests that Abert’s Towhee and other brown towhees are more closely related to ground sparrows than other towhee species that have mostly black or green plumages. Unlike other species of towhee, Abert’s Towhee does not have a common and distinctive call note. They are known to be secretive birds, and their song is rarely heard. The most distinctive feature of their call is a squeal that is sung by both sexes simultaneously upon reunion during the long breeding season. Due to the long breeding season, there is a prolonged pair bonding between males and females while nesting to increase the chances of offspring survival. Pairs usually remain bonded for life but are not necessarily genetically monogamous. In Mexico, this species is known as Toquí de Abert.

Abert’s Towhee closely resembles many species of finches and sparrows. They are considered on the larger end of sparrows, with mean male and female weights of 47.1 g (0.166 oz) and 44.8 g (0.158 oz), respectively. Their upperparts are gray and brown, and their breast, flanks, and belly are pinkish-brown. The species is monomorphic despite their slight discrepancy in size, and their bills are very pale pink or brown. The lores, or the area between the bill and eye, is usually black or dark brown. The underside of their rump can appear with yellow and orange hues as they age.

Habitat and Geographical Range

Abert’s Towhee resides in dense brush and woodlands along desert rivers and streams. this riparian forest is also called a gallery forest. This species is nonmigratory and spends most of its life on a permanent territory concealed by dense shrubs and desert bushes. The dense and untouched understory is preferred by this species, but in more urban areas it will settle and establish territory in quail bush along agricultural fields.

Abert’s Towhee is found in Arizona and the surrounding southwest states. Its most concentrated populations are along the Colorado River and in riparian zones near Phoenix, Arizona. Populations are also common in cottonwood-willow riparian forests in Mexico, they have a limited distribution being found in northern Coahuila and northern Sonora typically in areas with a dense understory of shrubs.

Common Misidentifications

The range of Abert’s Towhee overlaps with that of the Canyon Towhee Melozoe fusca (limited overlapping limited to sparse ranges where mesquite trees are present, lighter color and differing habitat). The Canyon Towhee prefers desert scrub, whereas Abert’s Towhee lives in brushy thickets along streams. Abert’s Towhee tends to avoid dry open hillsides.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective Abert’s Towhee is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. A recent estimate of their population is 840,000 individuals.