Towhee

A Towhee is any one of a number of species of birds in the genus Pipilo (Vieillot, 1816) within the family Emberizidae (which also includes the buntings, American sparrows, and juncos).

Towhees typically have longer tails than other emberizids. Most species have rather skulking habits, so they are not well known, though the Eastern Towhee P. erythrophthalamus is bolder as well as more colorful. This species, and some others, frequent urban parks and gardens.

There has been considerable debate over the taxonomy of the towhees in recent years. Two species complexes have been identified, the rufous-sided complex (involving Pipilo erythrophthalmus, P. maculatus, P. socorroensis, P. ocai and P. chlorurus), and the brown towhee complex (involving Pipilo crissalis, P. fuscus, P. aberti and P. albicollis). The distinction of species within these is uncertain and opinions have differed over the years. Modern authorities distinguish all four species in the brown towhee complex, though P. fuscus and P. crissalis were formerly treated as a single species. Hybrids are frequent between some of the species, particularly between the Mexican races of P. maculatus ("Olive-backed Towhee", P. maculatus macronyx) and P. ocai.

Species list:

• Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
• Collared Towhee, Pipilo ocai
• Eastern or Rufous-sided Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
• Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
  • Olive-backed Towhee, Pipilo maculatus macronyx
• Socorro Towhee, Pipilo socorroensis
• California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis
• Canyon or Brown Towhee, Pipilo fuscus
• Abert's Towhee, Pipilo aberti
• White-throated Towhee, Pipilo albicollis

References

• Zink, R. M., & Dittmann, D. L. (1991). Evolution of brown towhees – mitochondrial-DNA evidence. Condor 93: 98–105.