photo by: Dave Hillstad
Spotted towhee Cinclus mexicanus
Emberizidae Family– 7 genera of sparrows. Mostly small, brown, streaked songbirds. All have short conical bills. Tend to change diet seasonally (insects in summer, seeds in winter).
ID Traits: Larger and stockier than sparrows, with a long tail. Black hood, red eye, white spots on upper back. Rufus (orange) flanks. Black tail with white outer-tail corners. Black hood- dark grey-brown in females
Habitat: In shrublands, brush, & clearings. Forages on the ground by scratching in litter for seeds and insects
Photos used with permission by Rod Gilbert, photographer: http://www.pbase.com/rodg/sparrows_and_allies
Notice: white spotting, rufus flanks
Notice: Black tail, with white outer corners
photo by: Dave Hillstad