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Abert's Towhee

Melozone aberti ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: EMBERIZIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A very 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.

Read Cornell Lab of Ornithology's blog, Round Robin
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Appearance

Sparrowlike
Sparrowlike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

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

Immature Description

Similar to adult, but faintly streaked on chest.

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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Abert's Towhee

    Adult
    • © Kevin T. Karlson, California, February 2000

Similar Species

  • Canyon Towhee has reddish crown, light brown face, light throat, and gray bill.
  • California Towhee has a brown, not black face.