California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- 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 →
Recent sightings of California Towhee in Death Valley National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Death Valley National Park
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
Bell's Sparrow
Artemisiospiza belli
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
Sagebrush Sparrow
Artemisiospiza nevadensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a California Towhee in Death Valley National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a California Towhee sighting in Death Valley National Park, based on 282 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see California Towhee in Death Valley National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for California Towhee in Death Valley National Park in our monthly data.