Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

Explore this bird

Identification

18 cm (7") Fairly common. Western United States. Dense mountain brush, chaparral, open pines.

Unstreaked olive-green upperparts. Reddish-brown cap. Clear white throat. Grayish breast and sides.

Immatures look more sparrow-like with streaked back and breast.

Song: whistles beginning with "weet-chew", cat-like "mew" calls.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Roger Shaw

Credit: Patty McGann

Watch and learn

2 videos

Green-tailed Towhee

Credit: Don DesJardin

Green-tailed Towhee

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Uniform · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:895-green-tailed-towhee:1:1 Source: 895 Green-Tailed Towhee, row 1

Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 5

Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: Yes
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Noisily scratching in the underbrush or leaves
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:895-green-tailed-towhee:2:1 Source: 895 Green-Tailed Towhee, row 2