Large sparrow with a thick bill and a long tail. Grayish brown overall with a rusty brown patch under the tail and around the bill.
Large sparrow with a plump body and a long tail. Note rusty brown eyering and tinges to face. Plumage color varies from grayish brown to dark brown.
Often perches on exposed shrubs, rooftops, or branches and calls for long periods.
Often found in suburban areas with a mix of lawns and shrubs.
Found in dense shrubby vegetation including chaparral, coastal sage, and thickets along streams.
Hops along the ground looking for seeds and insects.
Large sparrow with a thick bill and a long tail. Brownish overall; found in dry, brushy habitats such as chaparral as well as suburban and residential areas.
Drinks water from small pools and forages on the ground.
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California Towhees are essentially large sparrows, with a sparrow’s short, rounded wings, long tail, and thick, seed-cracking beak—but towhees are larger and bulkier. The long tail and short wings can give this bird an ungainly look in flight.
Slightly larger than a Spotted Towhee; slightly smaller than a robin.
between sparrow and robinNeed Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
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