# California Towhee (*Melozone crissalis*) The California Towhee is a friendly bird that loves to hop around on the ground. It has a brown body and a cheerful song that makes it easy to spot in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 53 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![California Towhee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melozone_crissalis_103257560.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dario, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melozone_crissalis_103257560.jpg) ## Appearance The California Towhee is a medium-sized bird, mostly plain brown with a warm, rusty-red patch under its tail. It has a thick, conical beak perfect for cracking seeds, and its overall unassuming look helps it blend into its natural environment. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Passerellidae - **Genus:** Melozone ## Interesting facts - Baby California Towhees grow incredibly fast, leaving the nest after just 10 days! - These birds rarely fly long distances, preferring to stay hidden in dense bushes and on the ground. - They are famous for a sharp 'chink' call, which sounds like two pebbles tapping together! - When foraging, they often hop forward and then jump backward quickly to uncover tasty treats. ## Special abilities - **Ground Scraper:** The California Towhee can kick backward with both feet at once to uncover seeds, helping them find hidden meals. - **Urban Acclimation:** The California Towhee has adapted to human presence, which helps them find food and shelter in suburban gardens. - **Low-Flight Navigator:** The California Towhee has strong legs for hopping and prefers staying low, which helps them maneuver through dense shrubs. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 22-25 cm - **Wingspan:** 28-32 cm - **Weight:** 0.046-0.07 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-7 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 11-13 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores enjoy a varied menu of seeds, insects, and berries, like tiny feathered foragers! - **Primary Foods:** seeds, insects, berries, small snails, flower buds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Feral and pet cats are common predators of these ground-dwelling birds. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — This agile hawk preys on small to medium-sized birds, including towhees. - **Eats:** Wild Oat (*Avena fatua*) — Towhees frequently feed on seeds from various wild grasses, including this one. - **Shelter:** [Chamise](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chamise) (*Adenostoma fasciculatum*) — Dense chaparral shrubs like chamise provide important cover and nesting sites. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California 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 California Towhee? 22-25 cm ### What is California Towhee's wingspan? 28-32 cm ### How much does California Towhee weigh? 0.046-0.07 kg ### How long does California Towhee live? 2-7 years ### How fast can California Towhee move? 35 km/h ### What does California Towhee eat? These omnivores enjoy a varied menu of seeds, insects, and berries, like tiny feathered foragers! ### Where is California Towhee usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Arastradero Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arastradero-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Desert Garden Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-garden-conservatory) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palo-alto-baylands-nature-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see California Towhee](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-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: [California Towhee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-towhee)