The Green-tailed Towhee is a large Emberizidae sparrow. It is also the smallest Towhee. They have a gray-white breast and face with a white throat, a rusty cap, a black malar strip and a greenish back and tail. Their eyes are dark brown with a dark conical bill. Juveniles are streaked with brown and white and have a yellow wash on their wings. They may be in decline in some of the areas that they are found.

Green-tailed Towhees prefer dense chaparral and scrub covered slopes and are found near or on the ground. This can make it difficult to find them and get a good picture. Hopefully, next time I see this bird, I can improve on my photos.

:Diet: Green-tailed Towhees forage for food (insects, spiders, seeds and fruit) by scratching both legs backward at the same time (double-scratching).

:Courtship: In spring, the males will sing from the top of shrubs. They are monogamous.

:Nesting: Green-tailed Towhees usually hatch 2-5 (usually 4) white eggs speckled with brown. The nest is on or near the ground and is a deep and thick-walled cup made up of twigs, grasses, hair, etc. Both parents feed the young.

:Habitat and Range: Green-tailed Towhees are found throughout the western U.S. and Mexico where there is dense chaparral and thickets.

:Vocalization: Series of chip notes accelerating to a trill.

:Plumage/Molt: No information.

:Migration: Winters in Mexico and the southwest. Migrates to parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and other western states for breeding.

:Tongue/feet: From a picture on the web, the tongue looks triangular shaped with the tip pointed.

:Bibliography: b15 b16 w25;June, 2012