California Towhee

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California Towhee

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Genus: Pipilo
Species: P. crissalis
Binomial name
Pipilo crissalis
(Vigors, 1839)

The California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis, is a bird of the family Emberizidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States 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, Pipilo fuscus, should be at the specific or subspecific level. The two populations are quite isolated from each other, and molecular genetics seems to have settled the matter in favour 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 P. crissalis.

Contents

[edit] Appearance

The California Towhee's coloring is dull brown overall with light rust undertail coverts and buff or rust colored streaks at the throat. There is little sexual dimorphism. It is around 20-25cm in length, and has a noticeably long tail. Its appearance suggests a large, plain sparrow.

[edit] Habitat

This bird's natural habitat is brush or chaparral, but it adapts well to urban parks and gardens. However, its skulking habits combined with its nondescript appearance mean that it is not one of the better known garden birds even though it is regularly drawn to feeding stations.

Nests are typically found in low branches or shrubs about .5 to nearly 4 meters (2 to 12 feet) above ground. The nest is a bulky cup made of twigs, stems, grasses, and hair.

[edit] Behavior

The California Towhee feeds on the ground or in low scrub where it prefers a variety of seeds and some insects. It is most often seen traveling or feeding singly or in pairs with mixed flocks.

The call is a metallic sounding chink and the song consists of a long repeating series ended with a trill.

The female incubates the nest of 2 to 4 eggs alone for 11 days. Eggs are laid from March through September with shells that are slightly glossy and pale bluish white with some brownish flecks concentrated mostly on the larger end. Young leave the nest after 8 days.

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Pipilo crissalis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 9 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  • Zink, R. M., & Dittmann, D. L. (1991). Evolution of brown towhees - mitochondrial-DNA evidence. Condor, 93, 98-105.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Book

  • Kunzmann, M. R., K. Ellison, K. L. Purcell, R. R. Johnson, and L. T. Haight. 2002. California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis). In The Birds of North America, No. 632 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

[edit] Thesis

  • Purcell KL. Ph.D. (1995). Reproductive strategies of open- and cavity-nesting birds. University of Nevada, Reno, United States -- Nevada.
  • Slowik TJD. Ph.D. (2000). Studies on the enzootiology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and the host-targeted control of arthropod vectors of disease in northwestern California. University of California, Berkeley, United States -- California.

[edit] Articles

  • Alexander JD, Seavy NE & Hosten PE. (2007). Using conservation plans and bird monitoring to evaluate ecological effects of management: An example with fuels reduction activities in southwest Oregon. Forest Ecology & Management. vol 238, no 1-3. p. 375-383.
  • Benedict L. (2007). Offspring discrimination without recognition: California Towhee responses to chick distress calls. Condor. vol 109, no 1. p. 79-87.
  • Carson RJ & Spicer GS. (2003). A phylogenetic analysis of the emberizid sparrows based on three mitochondrial genes. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution. vol 29, no 1. p. 43-57.
  • Dodge AG, Fry AJ, Blackwell RC & Zink RM. (1995). Comparison of phylogenies derived from two molecular data sets in the avian genera Pipilo and Spizella. Wilson Bulletin. vol 107, no 4. p. 641-654.
  • Laabs DM, Allaback ML & Lapre LF. (1995). Census of the Inyo California Towhee in the eastern third of its range. Western Birds. vol 26, no 4. p. 189-196.
  • Patten MA & Bolger DT. (2003). Variation in top-down control of avian reproductive success across a fragmentation gradient. Oikos. vol 101, no 3. p. 479-488.
  • Purcell KL & Verner J. (1998). Density and reproductive success of California Towhees. Conservation Biology. vol 12, no 2. p. 442-450.
  • Valone TJ & Wheelbarger AJ. (1998). The effect of heterospecifics on the group-size effect in white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys). Bird Behavior. vol 12, no 3-4. p. 85-90.
  • Zink RM. (1988). Evolution of Brown Towhees Allozymes Morphometrics and Species Limits. Condor. vol 90, no 1. p. 72-82.
  • Zink RM & Dittman DL. (1991). Evolution of Brown Towhees Mitochondrial DNA Evidence. Condor. vol 93, no 1. p. 98-105.
  • Zink RM, Weller SJ & Blackwell RC. (1998). Molecular phylogenetics of the avian genus Pipilo and a biogeographic argument for taxonomic uncertainty. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution. vol 10, no 2. p. 191-201.

[edit] External links

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