Calls
- Song, calls
Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller
- Call
Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller
Oregon May 1990
- Call
Recorded by Thomas G. Sander
California May 1988
Courtesy of Macaulay Library
© Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The most frequently heard sound from California Towhees is a clear, metallic chip, similar to the sound of a Northern Cardinal (and also to the California ground squirrel). Males and females may call intermittently or in a monotonous string of chips every couple of seconds. When birds are alarmed, the chipping rate may triple. Mated pairs often face each other and give a rapid series of squeals and squeaks; this call is an important part of reinforcing the pair bond.
Backyard Tips
You can encourage California Towhees to come out in the open in your backyard by offering seed (including millet, which is unpopular with many other backyard birds). Towhees are ground foragers, so spreading seed on the ground or in trays Is more likely to attract them than hanging feeders.
Find This Bird
If you live in California, there’s a good chance you can see a California Towhee on a walk around your neighborhood. Listen for a loud, sharp, metallic chip, then scan nearby shrubs, the ground below them, and exposed perches like fenceposts and eaves. Another clue is car mirrors and windowsills covered with bird droppings - a good sign that a California Towhee has become obsessed with chasing off its reflection and will return frequently.
Get Involved
California Towhees are one of the most frequently reported species for California residents who participate in Project Feederwatch and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Join Project FeederWatch and the GBBC and add your own sightings to the list!