California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 57,519 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
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 California Towhee: observations by month (U.S.)
About California Towhee
The California towhee (Melozone crissalis) is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California Sur in Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
California Towhee by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 57,441 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 76 | May | Nov–Jun |
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
Eastern 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 California Towhee?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is California Towhee most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon.