Abert's Towhee

Abert's Towhee, adult, CA, February

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A large sparrow, Abert's Towhee inhabits riparian corridors in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Plain and rather secretive, Abert's Towhee stays in its breeding range year-round.

Description

• Medium-sized songbird with long tail.
• Plain brown head and body.
• Black face.
• Dark rusty color under the tail.

• Size: 21-23 cm (8-9 in)
• Wingspan: 28 cm (11 in)
• Weight: 40-54 g (1.41-1.91 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Call note is a high, sharp "peep." Song resembles a rapid series of call notes.

Conservation Status

Habitat loss has evidently led to widespread reduction in Abert's Towhee populations in most of its historical range.

Other Names

Tohi d'Abert (French)
Rascador desertico, Toquí Abert (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Abert's Towhee pairs generally remain bonded for life.
• Mitochondrial DNA analysis indicates that of the three brown towhees of the American Southwest, California and Abert's are the most closely related, even though California and Canyon towhees were once considered a single species.

• Abert's Towhee was named by Spencer Baird in 1852 for Lt. James William Abert, who obtained the first specimen.

Sources used to construct this page:

Tweit, R. C., and D. M. Finch. 1994. Abert's Towhee (Pipilo aberti). In The Birds of North America, No. 111 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.