Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Abert’s Towhee vs Green-tailed Towhee
Abert’s Towhee
Abert’s Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Abert’s Towhee
Abert’s Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Abert’s Towhee
Abert’s Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Abert’s Towhee
Abert’s Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Green-tailed Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Green-tailed Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Green-tailed Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Green-tailed Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee • Wikimedia Commons
Abert’s Towhee vs Green-tailed Towhee (Melozone aberti vs Pipilo chlorurus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Same family, totally different plumage — but they share Arizona desert yards in winter. Three rules:
- Color: plain warm brown with a black face mask = Abert’s; olive-green back and tail with a gray breast, white throat and rufous crown = Green-tailed.
- Size: big and long-tailed (9.1 in) = Abert’s; small and slim (7.3 in) = Green-tailed.
- Season: in the Arizona lowlands, a Green-tailed is a winter guest (roughly October–March); Abert’s is there all year.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The brown towhee and the green towhee, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Abert’s Towhee | Green-tailed Towhee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melozone aberti | Pipilo chlorurus |
| Length KEY | 9.1 in (23 cm) | 7.3 in (18.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 11–12 in (28–30 cm) | 9.4 in (24 cm) |
| Weight | 1.4–1.9 oz (40–54 g) | 1.0 oz (29 g) |
| Overall Shape | Large, long-tailed ground sparrow | Small, slim towhee — the only one in olive-green and gray |
| Male Plumage KEY | Warm brown-gray with a black face mask around a pale-based bill and a chestnut undertail (sexes alike) | Olive-green back, wings and tail; gray head and breast; white throat; rufous crown (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male | Identical to the male, averaging slightly duller |
| Bill Shape | Conical bill, pinkish at the base | Small, dark, conical |
| Tail | Long, rounded, often cocked | Long, olive-green, often flicked |
| Core Range KEY | Sonoran Desert riparian corridors — Arizona and small corners of neighboring states | Breeds in western mountain brush (Great Basin, Rockies); winters in the lowland Southwest and Texas |
| Migration KEY | Non-migratory resident | Medium-distance migrant; winter visitor to desert yards |
| Feeder Presence | Ground-scratches under desert feeders for millet and scattered seed | In winter, scratches for scattered millet and small seed under shrubs in southwestern yards |
| Favorite Foods | Seeds and insects from leaf litter; millet and cracked corn at feeders | Seeds and insects from leaf litter |
| Song | A short accelerating series of metallic chips | A sweet, slurred “swee-see-swee” with a finch-like buzz |
| Flight Call | A sharp, metallic “peek” or “cheenk” | A distinctive catlike “mew” |
| Population Trend | Stable where desert riverside vegetation survives | Stable across western mountains |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Abert’s Towhee — Male
Melozone aberti
- Black face mask framing the pale-based bill.
- Warm brown-gray body, chestnut undertail coverts.
- Stays low — scratching in riverside thickets.
Green-tailed Towhee — Male
Pipilo chlorurus
- Olive-green back and tail — unique among towhees.
- Rufous crown, gray breast, white throat.
- Smaller and slimmer than other towhees.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Abert’s Towhee — Female
Melozone aberti
- Identical to the male, mask included.
- Double-scratch feeding in leaf litter.
- Pairs stay in contact with soft chips.
Green-tailed Towhee — Female
Pipilo chlorurus
- Same pattern as the male, slightly duller.
- Catlike mew call gives it away in thickets.
- Winters low: desert scrub and yard edges.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
No two towhees are easier to separate by color:
| Body Part | Abert’s Towhee | Green-tailed Towhee |
|---|---|---|
| Back & Tail | Plain warm brown | Olive-green — unique among towhees |
| Crown | Brown, with a black face mask below it | Rufous cap |
| Throat & Breast | Plain brown throughout | White throat patch, gray breast |
| Face | Bold black mask | Plain gray, no mask |
| Size | 9.1 in, large and long-tailed | 7.3 in, small and slim |
| Bill | Conical, pinkish base | Small, dark conical |
| Call | Sharp metallic chip | A catlike “mew” |
Song & Call Comparison
Abert’s Towhee
Melozone aberti
Song: a short accelerating series of metallic chips, delivered from a low perch.
Calls: sharp metallic peek notes from dense cover.
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
Song: a sweet, slurred swee-see-swee mixed with buzzy finch-like notes.
Calls: a distinctive catlike mew from dense cover.
Range & Seasonal Presence
Abert’s Towhee lives year-round in the Sonoran Desert lowlands of southern Arizona, tied to riverside thickets and irrigated yards.
The Green-tailed Towhee breeds in mountain brush across the interior West — Great Basin, Rockies, Sierra Nevada — and winters in the lowland Southwest. From October to March the two share southern Arizona; in summer, only Abert’s remains.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Abert’s Towhee: a year-round scratcher under desert feeders for millet and cracked corn.
- Green-tailed Towhee: a winter-only feeder guest in the lowlands — scratches for scattered millet under dense shrubs, shy and easily overlooked.
- Best foods for both: white millet scattered on open ground right beside cover.
- Habitat over feeders: both respond to thick shrubbery and leaf litter far more than to any feeder design.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Abert’s Towhees are calm pair-living thicket birds, scratching openly near cover.
Green-tailed Towhees are nervous, furtive migrants — they dive into brush at movement and reveal themselves mainly by the catlike mew call from inside the shrubbery.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Any olive-green? Green-tailed. Plain brown all over = Abert’s.
- Face. Black mask = Abert’s; plain gray face = Green-tailed.
- Crown. Brown crown = Abert’s; rufous cap = Green-tailed.
- Throat. Brown throat = Abert’s; clean white throat patch = Green-tailed.
- Size. Large and long-tailed = Abert’s; small and slim = Green-tailed.
- Call. Metallic chip = Abert’s; catlike mew = Green-tailed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an Abert’s Towhee from a Green-tailed Towhee?
Abert’s is large, plain brown and black-masked. The Green-tailed is smaller with an olive-green back and tail, gray breast, white throat and rufous crown — the only olive-green towhee.
Do Abert’s and Green-tailed Towhees occur together?
Yes, in winter. Green-tailed Towhees breed in western mountains and winter in the lowland Southwest, sharing southern Arizona with the resident Abert’s from roughly October to March.
Which towhee has a green tail?
The Green-tailed Towhee — and it is the only North American towhee with olive-green on the back, wings and tail. It also shows a rufous crown and white throat.
What does a Green-tailed Towhee sound like?
Its call is a distinctive catlike “mew” from dense cover; its song is a sweet, slurred “swee-see-swee” mixed with buzzy notes. Abert’s gives metallic chips and an accelerating trill.
Do Green-tailed Towhees come to feeders?
In their winter range, yes — they scratch for scattered millet under dense shrubs in southwestern yards, though they are shyer than Abert’s and easy to miss.
Which towhee is bigger?
Abert’s — at 9.1 inches it is one of the largest towhees, while the Green-tailed at 7.3 inches is among the smallest and slimmest.
Key Takeaways
- Color: Olive-green back and tail = Green-tailed; plain brown = Abert’s.
- Face: Black mask = Abert’s; plain gray = Green-tailed.
- Crown: Rufous cap = Green-tailed; brown = Abert’s.
- Throat: White throat patch = Green-tailed; brown = Abert’s.
- Season: Green-tailed is a lowland winter visitor; Abert’s is resident.
- Call: Catlike mew = Green-tailed; metallic chip = Abert’s.