Spotted Towhee
(Pipilo maculatus)
The Spotted Towhee is a common resident of dense coastal sage and chaparral, shaded canyon slopes, and streamside tangles from near sea level to 8,500 feet, wherever the habitat forms dense thickets. The Spotted Towhee can nest from late February through August. Spotted Towhees are commonly seen or heard scratching for seeds and insects in leaf litter under and near dense tangles. Males can be distinguished from females by their brighter colors.
Status: Not protected
Nesting habitat: Coastal sage scrub, chaparral and other brushy areas
Diet: Insects and seeds
Breeding season begins: March to early April
Nest type: Open cup on the ground
Typical number of eggs: 3-4
Incubated by: Female
Nestlings tended by: Both parents
Migratory: No
Active period on the Preserve: Year around (see graph)
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