# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Abert's Towhees live in dense shrubby areas, often near wetlands and waterways. - **Also known as:** Abert's Sparrow, Melozone Abert, Towhee ![Abert's Towhee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pipilo_aberti.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alan D. Wilson, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pipilo_aberti.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Passerellidae - **Genus:** Melozone ## 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 - **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. - **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. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes may prey on Abert's Towhees, especially ground-nesting adults and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Western Diamondback Rattlesnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-diamondback-rattlesnake) (*Crotalus atrox*) — Rattlesnakes are known predators of ground-nesting birds, including towhees and their eggs. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Cooper's Hawks are swift hunters that can prey on small to medium-sized birds. - **Eats:** [Mesquite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mesquite) (*Prosopis glandulosa*) — Abert's Towhees frequently consume the seeds of mesquite trees found in their habitat. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Abert's Towhee? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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. ## Where to spot - [Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southern-nevada-zoological-botanical-park) — Nevada, US · Zoo - [Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/las-vegas-high-school-neighborhood-historic-district) — Nevada, US · Historic District - [Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southern-nevada-zoological-botanical-park-nevada) — Nevada, US · Zoo - [Springs Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/springs-preserve) — Nevada, US · Nature Reserve - [Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yuma-territorial-prison-state-historic-park) — Arizona, US · State Park [View all places to see Abert's Towhee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/aberts-towhee) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Abert's Towhee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aberts-towhee)