Green-tailed Towhee near Bishop

Observers: Chris Howard
Email: chris93514@gmail.com
Verification: sierra
Remote Name: 209.33.43.149
Date: 12/23/2006
Time: 11:13 AM -0500

Sighting

This morning (23 Dec) there was a Green-tailed Towhee doing the 'hop-shuffle', feeding along the canal south of Green-gate Cottonwoods. It was located on a birm at the south end of two downed beaver trees. The first thing I noticed was a bird larger than the adjacent White-crowns with a longer tail, yellowish undertail coverts and yellowish-gray body. Then I saw the solid rufous cap, white throat and malar with contrasting black lateral throat stripe. I only occasionally see this large sparrow in spring and fall on the valley floor, but never before this late in the year.