White-throated Towhee Melozone albicollis Scientific name definitions

White-throated Towhee is a Mexican endemic found mainly in the state of Oaxaca, spilling over into adjacent Guerrero and Puebla. Squeaky flocks numbering a dozen or more individuals inhabit arid country with open, scrubby slopes. Here, the species may be found with the generally duller Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus). Its most obvious field marks are the white chin and throat separated by a pale cinnamon band. Note also the White-throated’s very thin, pale wingbars—absent in Canyon Towhee.

18·5–22·5 cm; 42–50 g. Large, long-tailed sparrow. Has crown, nape, upperparts and tail brown; upperwing brown, two narrow pale wingbars, that of median coverts whiter and more contrasting; side of head brown, white supercilium from supraloral area to above eye, some whitish below eye, especially on submoustachial area, which becomes cinnamon on lower half, blackish malar stripe; chin and foreneck white contras­ting with rusty-cinnamon throat, side of breast grey, becoming cinnamon on flanks and undertail-coverts, central abdomen whitish with grey mottling; iris reddish; upper mandible dusky brown, lower mandible paler; legs horn-coloured. Sexes similar in plumage. Juvenile is similar to adult, but with chest brownish-mottled, wingbars pale cinnamon. Race marshalli duller and greyer.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Broken semi-arid montane shrubland, also pine–oak (Pinus–Quercus) forest, at 1000–2800 m.

Sedentary.

Diet probably seeds, augmented with insects and fruit when available. Forages principally on ground or low in vegetation. Often scratches on ground.

Season Feb–May. Nest a bulky cup of dry grasses, lined with finer grasses, rootlets and hair, placed on or near ground, sometimes beneath thick bush. Clutch 4 eggs, pale blue to whitish-blue and spotted dark brown or reddish. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Balsas region and interior Oaxaca EBA. Little information available; common within its limited range.