Abert'S Towhee
ExploreBirds
Abert'S Towhee
melozone aberti
The Abert's Towhee is a cheerful bird known for its distinctive call! It loves to hop around on the ground, looking for tasty seeds and insects to eat.
Habitat: Abert's Towhees live in dense shrubby areas, often near wetlands and waterways.
Appearance
The Abert's Towhee is a medium-sized bird with uniform, plain grayish-brown plumage, a slightly darker head, and a small dark bill. Its subtle coloring and pale undertail coverts differentiate it from other towhees with bolder markings or streaked chests.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyPasserellidaeGenusMelozone
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
Abert's Towhees rarely fly far from the ground, preferring to stay hidden in dense bushes!
They are named after explorer James W. Abert, who first documented this bird species!
They build cup-shaped nests low in shrubs, sometimes just a few feet above the desert floor!
Unlike many birds, these towhees often stay with the same mate for their entire lives!
Special abilities
Ability
Ground-Scratch Forager
Abert's Towhee can use a unique two-footed hop-and-scratch technique that helps them uncover hidden seeds and insects from the ground.
Ability
Dust Bathing Expert
Abert's Towhee has an instinct to take regular dust baths that helps them keep their feathers clean and free of parasites.
Ability
Desert Riparian Dweller
Abert's Towhee can survive in arid desert environments because they stay very close to vital water sources in riparian areas.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 22-24 cm
- Wingspan
- 28-32 cm
- Weight
- 0.045-0.06 kg
- Lifespan
- 3-7 years
- Top Speed
- 35 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 2-5
- Incubation
- 10-14 days
Diet & Feeding
An omnivore, the Abert's Towhee mainly eats seeds, fruits, and insects it finds by scratching the ground.
Primary Foods
- Seeds
- Ants
- Beetles
- Berries
- Flower buds
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Coyote
Canis latrans
Coyotes may prey on Abert's Towhees, especially ground-nesting adults and chicks.
eaten by
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Rattlesnakes are known predators of ground-nesting birds, including towhees and their eggs.
eaten by
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Cooper's Hawks are swift hunters that can prey on small to medium-sized birds.
eats
Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
Abert's Towhees frequently consume the seeds of mesquite trees found in their habitat.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Abert's SparrowMelozone AbertTowhee
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Abert'S Towhee?
The easiest way to identify Abert'S Towhee is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Abert'S Towhee?
22-24 cm
What is Abert'S Towhee's wingspan?
28-32 cm
How much does Abert'S Towhee weigh?
0.045-0.06 kg
How long does Abert'S Towhee live?
3-7 years
How fast can Abert'S Towhee move?
35 km/h
What does Abert'S Towhee eat?
An omnivore, the Abert's Towhee mainly eats seeds, fruits, and insects it finds by scratching the ground.
Where is Abert'S Towhee usually found?
Abert's Towhees live in dense shrubby areas, often near wetlands and waterways.
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Jun 7, 2026
Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Katrina Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
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You might spot Great-Tailed Grackle and Northern Mockingbird.
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Park57 sightings6 species
Arizona, US
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
You might spot Desert Cottontail, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and Black Phoebe.
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