Towhee WESTERN BIRDS 



not seen in the east. This and a similar bird which is 

 known as Anthony's Towhee (P. c. senicula), found in 

 southern California, is one of the commonest birds of 

 this region, being a resident and very tame and friendly. 

 Nearly everywhere, except the immediate coast region, 

 these birds are found, be it mountains, foothills, canyons, 

 city parks, or dooryards. 



The California Towhee is eight and one-half or nine 

 inches long and both sexes are alike. They are plump, 

 short-legged birds, having rather long tails and are a 

 dull brown in color, the throat being a light rufous 

 which is usually finely streaked with dark brown; the 

 middle of belly is lighter and the under tail coverts 

 are a deep rufous which shows conspicuously as the 

 bird bobs over a fence, or down from a limb. The 

 young are similar but the breast is streaked for a few 

 weeks. 



The Anthony Towhee is somewhat smaller with the 

 upper parts darker and the lower parts grayer. To the 

 ordinary observer they are too similar to warrant any 

 division. 



The common call of these birds is a thin chip which 

 has caused them to be known by the small boys as 

 Chippies or Brown Chippies. Their friendly, Robin-like 

 way of staying about the dooryards has given them the 

 name of Ground Robin. 



These birds are not gregarious but rather go about in 

 pairs, or families. At all times of year several of them 

 may be seen in my garden, coming continually to my 

 bird table and bath, flying into the house, hopping about 

 in the most matter-of-fact way in search of any crumb 

 that may have escaped the housewife, and going leisurely 

 out when they get ready. I know of no bird that is so at 

 home in the abode of man. 



Because the Anthony Towhee is the one I know best 

 it will be the subspecies most fully treated but in habits, 



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