Bird of the Week: CLXXV
We had a newcomer to our yard last week. This is Abert’s Towhee, a sandy brown large sparrow with a black patch around its beak. My Merlin App that identifies birds by their calls had ID’d Abert’s Towhee months ago, but I had never seen him. I was excited to finally get a glimpse and have a new bird to photograph.
Abert’s Towhees mate for life and can be found in dense brush in the Sonoran Desert along lakes, streams and in urban neighborhoods. They build their nests in mesquite, cottonwood, willow and mistletoe.
Abert’s Towhee was named in 1852 for Lt. Col. James William Abert (1820–1897), a U.S. Army officer in the Topographical Engineers who obtained the first specimen during a survey of New Mexico at the end of the Mexican War.
From Audubon:
Description
Both sexes — Length: 8.3–9.5 in (21–24 cm); wingspan: 10.4–11.6 in (26–29 cm); weight: 1.5–1.9 oz (43–54 g). Slim and long-tailed. The Abert’s Towhee is warm buffy brown with a black face and a pale gray bill. Usually in denser habitats than the Canyon Towhee, and has a different voice.
RANGE:
Abert’s Towhee is a very local bird to the Sonoran Desert where I live. They are territorial and do not migrate. Here’s a map of their range:
FOOD:
Their diet consists of insects and seeds. They like beetles, ants, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and cicadas and seeds from grasses and weeds.
CALLS:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Aberts_Towhee/sounds
It’s a pretty bird. I like its light green coloring.
I had two newcomer birds this week. Good thing, because I was almost finished with birds of the week.
The birds need to spread the message that they can get famous if they visit your house.
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Great shot of the little guy looking straight at us! A truly native bird to your area—nice!
Glad you enjoyed it.
We have Spotted Towhees here, all over the backyard and also when we hike. They are gorgeous, talk constantly and scratch the ground looking for seeds and insects. Long tails just like your variety.
Ours have nice calls, too. It was fun to see a new bird in the yard.
He looks like a chubby little fella! 🤭❤️
He’s not a little bird like the other sparrows.
Don’t you just love spotting a new bird? I get way too excited…
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Yes! And I had two this week!
Love that last shot! That’s a cute and curious bird.
I thought it was interesting that he was nearby but I didn’t see him for a couple months.
Very cool! Love that last photo, especially.
Thank you!
What a beautiful bird, Elizabeth — and one I’d never, ever heard of! Love learning from you! 💝
I’m glad you like my weekly birds. I was so thankful to see two new birds this week. I was running out of subjects!
Well….I’d say your photography skills, with wildlife and nature, overall – means the world is your oyster, Elizabeth! Keep sharing and we’ll keep enjoying!
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Thank you so much for the great compliment! I have gotten so much help from a photographer I used to work with during my PR days. He’s also focused on birds now and has sold 50 photos in an art gallery in Palm Springs. He can tell me a simple thing that changes everything for me.
Truly lovely. I think you will have unlimited subject matter….given your eye…just keep taking photos and sharing! Next stop…a gallery show for you, too!
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Thank you so much!!! 🥰
My pleasure! 😊💝😊
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We have lots of spotted towhees and sometimes green-tailed towhees. They’re fun birds to watch because they like to do a hopping scratch on the ground looking for food.
This Towhee also hops around and scratches looking for food.
Quite a long tail. I wonder what it is useful for. Is it an acrobatic bird?
Its diet is very much a generalist diet.
It’s a very active bird, hopping around the yard and in the face of other birds.
A very sleek bird Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing