Abert's Towhee (Melozone aberti) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,005 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Abert's Towhee: observations by month (U.S.)
About Abert's Towhee
The Abert's towhee (Melozone aberti) is a bird of the family Emberizidae, native to a small range in southwestern North America, generally the lower Colorado River and Gila River watersheds, nearly endemic to Arizona, but also present in small parts of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Sonora in Mexico. The name of this bird commemorates the American ornithologist James William Abert (1820–1897).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Abert's Towhee by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 4,797 | April | Mar–Feb |
| California | 766 | January | Nov–May |
| Nevada | 308 | January | Sep–May |
| Utah | 118 | March | Jan–Jul |
| New Mexico | 13 | May | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Abert's Towhee?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from February to January.
Where is Abert's Towhee most often seen?
The most observations come from Arizona, California, Nevada.