From Opus

Photo by Leslie
Newbury Park, California, January 2004

Melozone crissalis

Pipilo crissalis

[edit] Identification

A drab, chunky, long-tailed bird of dense thickets.

[edit] Similar Species

Both this species and its close relative the Canyon Towhee have reddish-brown undertail coverts. The California Towhee can be separated by the additional reddish-brown color on the bird's face and the faint streaking on the breast. The Canyon Towhee has a paler face pattern with more contrast and darker spots on the breast.

[edit] Distribution

Southern Oregon, California, and Baja California in Mexico.

[edit] Taxonomy

Was formerly placed in genus Pipilo.

Formerly considered conspecific with the Canyon Towhee under the name Brown Towhee.

[edit] Subspecies

Eight subspecies are recognized¹:

• M. c. bullata: Semi-arid south-western Oregon and extreme north-central California
• M. c. carolae: Interior California (Humboldt County to Kern County)
• M. c. petulans : Coastal northern California (Humboldt County to Santa Cruz County)
• M. c. crissalis: Coastal central California (northern Monterey to Kern and Ventura counties)
• M. c. eremophila: East-central California (Argus Mountains and north-western San Bernardino County)
• M. c. senicula: Coastal southern California (Los Angeles County) and north-western Baja California
• M. c. aripolia: Central Baja California (latitude 29°N to 26°30'N)
• M. c. albigula: Cape district of southern Baja California

An additional subspecies wrangeli is generally considered invalid³.

[edit] Habitat

Dense thickets, especially near water. The California Towhee has greater tolerance for human disturbance than the Spotted Towhee and will nest in built-up areas where bushes and ground cover are present.

[edit] Behaviour

They will often run when disturbed rather than taking flight, and in urban areas, this bird will scurry beneath parked cars as if hiding in brush.

[edit] Diet

Forages in leaf litter, often in pairs. The bird can often be heard scratching among the leaves long before it is visible.

[edit] Vocalisation

The typical call note is a loud and metallic pink, which may be repeated in a series with varying whistled notes.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds
3. Avibase

• List of references

[edit] External Links