Green-tailed Towhees and Spotted Towhee at the SanPedro Riparian NCA

A Green-tailed Towhee, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 4/10/2012.

I have seen several Green-tailed Towhees (Colorado, California and Utah) before my visit to the San Pedro Riparian NCA, but never such nice clear views (Above). So I was happy to oblige by taking their photos.

Another Green-tailed Towhee, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 4/10/2012.

Many of these Towhees were hanging around the feeders at the San Pedro House (Above and Below). These Towhees can be found wintering in the extreme southern borders of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, as well as throughout Mexico. For the summer they will migrate north into Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and into the southern parts of Montana, and the western edge of California.

Green-tailed Towhee, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 4/10/2012.

Green-tailed Towhees are fairly common in dry brushy habitats, such as where the San Pedro House stood. They are colorful birds with greenish / yellowish wings, back, and tail, contrasting against a mostly gray body. They sport a bright red crown with black and white throat stripes, and white lores.

A Spotted Towhee skulking in the thickets around Green Kingfisher Pond, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 4/10/2012.

Green-tailed Towhees weren't the only Towhee species present at the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. I also stalked (it seemd like forever) a Spotted Towhee (Above) which was keeping itself well-hidden in the thickets around Green Kingfisher Pond. I heard it rustling and scratching the dry leaves on the ground, but could only manage to see parts of it at a time - a tail, a back, then a head. Until finally, it hopped up on a low branch and stood still long enough in a semi-open space for me to get its photo (Above).