California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPasserellidae (New World Sparrows)
- GenusMelozone (Ground-Sparrows and Brown Towhees)
- SpeciesMelozone crissalis (California Towhee)
About the California Towhee
The California towhee (Melozone crissalis) is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California and Baja California Sur in Mexico.
The taxonomy of this species has been debated. At the higher level, some authors place the towhees in the family Fringillidae. Within the group, there has been debate about whether the distinction between this species and the similar canyon towhee (Melozone fuscus) should be at the specific or subspecific level. The two species used to be grouped together as the brown towhee, yet today they are identified separately, especially because of their differing feather coloration, and the canyon towhee's dark central breast spot. The two populations are quite isolated from each other, and molecular genetics seems to have settled the matter in favor of two distinct species for the present. On the other hand, there seems to be little distinction between the northern and Baja Californian populations within M. crissalis. Nowadays, scientists consider the Abert's towhee as the California towhee's closest relative due to closely aligned DNA and patterns.
Some authorities... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Cabo Pulmo National Park
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Clay-colored Sparrow
Spizella pallida
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri
Black-chinned Sparrow
Spizella atrogularis
Lark Bunting
Calamospiza melanocorys
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 8 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a California Towhee in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a California Towhee sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 35 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see California Towhee in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for California Towhee in Cabo Pulmo National Park in our monthly data.