Montana Field Guide

The Green-tailed Towhee is a large, secretive sparrow of shrub-steppe habitats, spending much of its time scratching the ground to move leaf litter in search of food. Its catlike "mew" calls and vigorous foraging method often reveal its presence. Males sing a song of jumbled notes and trills (Dobbs et al. 2012).

For a comprehensive review of the conservation status, habitat use, and ecology of this and other Montana bird species, please see Marks et al. 2016, Birds of Montana.

Singing males observed in suitable habitat in May. Several records of nestlings and/or fledglings in June and July. Nests with eggs observed as late as July 4, and a late observation of an adult feeding recently fledged young recorded in early September. Observations in December-February suggest this species occasionally overwinters in portions of Montana (Montana Natural Heritage Program Point Observation Database 2014).

Sexes similar in appearance, but some females show slightly duller plumage than males, especially on crown. Upperparts are olive green with gray breast, long greenish tail, and conspicuous reddish brown cap. White spot above the cheek, a white mustache, and white chin, throat, and belly contrast with gray on head and breast. Juvenile lacks contrasts, mainly brownish gray above and white below (Dobbs et al. 2012).

In the Bozeman area, normal migration periods are May 24 to June 5 and August 25 to September 10.

Habitat selected for breeding varies with elevation, prefers species-rich shrub communities. Typically occurs along the ecotone, or edge, of sagebrush communities and other mixed-species shrub communities such as Chokecherry, snowberry, serviceberry, and mountain mahogany (Dobbs et al. 2012).

The Green-tailed Towhee feeds primarily on the ground or low in dense, shrubby vegetation. Searches for food by scratching or hop-kicking back and forth to move surface leaf litter and expose lower layers of leaf litter or bare ground. Eats primarily seeds, small insects and some fruit (Dobbs et al. 2012).

Apparently only an occasional host for the Brown-headed Cowbird (Dobbs et al. 2012).

Locates its bulky nest in patches of dense, healthy shrubs, which provide heavy concealment. Eggs are pale, tinted sky blue turquoise, with reddish brown speckling. Clutch size typically 3 to 4 (Dobbs et al. 2012). Nests with eggs have been found from May 27 to July 4 (Montana Natural Heritage Program Point Observation Database 2014). Only females incubate eggs; incubation period lasts from 11-13 days. Females brood nestlings, but both parents feed nestlings. Nestlings leave the nest 11-14 days after hatching; parents feed fledglings for at least two weeks after fledging (Dobbs et al. 2012).

Maintaining diverse, vigorous shrubland communities is essential to support breeding populations of Green-tailed Towhee. The interacting effects of livestock grazing, non-native species, particularly Cheatgrass, and fire management influence habitats for this species (Dobbs 2006).

Loss of diverse and healthy shrub communities may in occur in areas overgrazed by livestock, invaded by non-native plant species, or converted to agricultural lands (Dobbs 2006).