Birds diurnal

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

With its dapper reddish cap and striking olive-green wings, the Green-tailed Towhee is a splash of mountain color in the desert scrub. This secretive ground-dweller is a favorite for backyard observers who know how to look beneath the bushes.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 6.3–7.1 in (16–18 cm); Wingspan: 9.1–9.8 in (23–25 cm); Weight: 1.0–1.3 oz (28–38 g)

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Colors

Bright rufous (reddish-brown) crown, crisp white throat patch with dark 'mustache' stripes, olive-green wings and tail, and a smooth gray breast and belly.

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Key Features

Vibrant reddish-brown crown cap
Bright olive-green wings and long tail
Distinctive white throat patch bordered by gray
Unique 'double-scratch' foraging movement

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6-10 AM and 4-7 PM

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Season April through September in breeding grounds; Year-round in southern desert regions

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Diet An omnivorous ground-feeder that consumes a variety of seeds, small berries, and insects like beetles, ants, and caterpillars. They rely heavily on their strong legs to uncover food from leaf litter.

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Habitat Western montane scrub, sagebrush flats, chaparral, and brushy forest edges. They frequently visit suburban yards that offer dense, low-growing vegetation.

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Behavior

The Green-tailed Towhee is a somewhat secretive member of the sparrow family, known more for its habit of scurrying through the underbrush like a mouse than for soaring through the sky. While they are the smallest of the towhee species, they possess a big personality, characterized by their rhythmic 'double-scratch' foraging technique. You’ll often see them hop forward and then vigorously kick both feet backward to stir up insects and seeds hidden beneath fallen leaves and debris.

These birds are masters of the 'edge' habitat, rarely venturing far from the safety of dense shrubs or sagebrush. During the breeding season, males become more conspicuous as they climb to the tops of low bushes to deliver a complex, buzzy song to defend their territory. Despite their shy nature, they can become quite comfortable in quiet backyards that offer plenty of natural cover, especially if there is a reliable source of water nearby.

Socially, Green-tailed Towhees are typically found alone or in pairs. They are strongly migratory, moving from the mountainous scrublands of the Western United States down to the Southwestern US and Mexico for the winter. In suburban environments, they are polite visitors, usually yielding to larger birds at feeders but holding their ground against smaller sparrows when foraging on the ground.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture a Green-tailed Towhee on your AI camera, you must focus on ground-level activity. These birds rarely use hanging feeders, so your camera should be mounted low—ideally between 6 and 12 inches off the ground. Aim the lens at a flat area of dirt or mulch directly adjacent to a dense shrub or brush pile. This proximity to cover makes the towhee feel safe enough to linger in front of the lens.

Setting up a ground-level feeding station is the most effective lure. Scatter a mixture of white proso millet, sunflower hearts, and cracked corn in a 'staging area' near their favorite bushes. If you want high-quality video, a shallow ground-level birdbath with a solar-powered dripper is irresistible to them. The sound and movement of water will often bring them out of the shadows and into the sunlight where their olive-green plumage can truly shine.

Because their 'double-scratch' foraging movement is so rapid, ensure your camera is set to its highest trigger speed and shortest recovery time. This prevents 'ghosting' or blurry images of the bird's feet. If your camera has a 'burst' mode, use it; capturing the moment they kick back the leaves provides a fantastic behavioral shot. For the best lighting, position your camera facing north or south to avoid the harsh glare of the rising or setting sun, which can wash out the subtle gray and green tones of their feathers.

In the early spring, pay close attention to the tops of low bushes in the background of your frame. Males will often use these as 'song posts.' If you can position a secondary camera at about 3 to 4 feet high, focused on a prominent branch of a sagebrush or mahogany bush, you might catch the striking rufous cap of a singing male in full display.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Green-tailed Towhee.

Spotted Towhee

Larger with a black hood and white spots on the back; lacks the green wings and bright rufous cap.

Canyon Towhee

Mostly uniform earthy brown without the green wings or the crisp white throat patch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Green-tailed Towhees are primarily active in the early morning and late afternoon. They are most vocal and likely to be seen foraging just after sunrise, as they work to refuel after a cool night.

The best way to attract them is by maintaining dense, native shrubbery and providing a ground-level feeding area. Scatter birdseed like millet or sunflower chips near the base of bushes, and add a low-profile water feature or birdbath.

They eat a mix of insects and seeds. In the summer, they focus on high-protein beetles and grasshoppers, while in the winter and during migration, they rely more heavily on seeds from grasses and shrubs.

They are common in Western suburbs that border natural scrublands or foothills. They appreciate 'messy' yards with leaf litter and thick hedges rather than wide-open, manicured lawns.

While both scratch on the ground, the Green-tailed Towhee is smaller and has a bright reddish cap and green wings. The Spotted Towhee is larger with a black head, white spots on its back, and orange (rufous) sides.

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