Rufous-crowned Sparrow vs Green-tailed Towhee

In short

The Rufous-crowned Sparrow and the Green-tailed Towhee can be distinguished by their head markings and tail color. The Rufous-crowned Sparrow has a distinct rufous crown and lacks the greenish tail of the Green-tailed Towhee. Both species inhabit shrubby areas but have different vocalizations.

Identification tips

• Look for the rufous crown on the Rufous-crowned Sparrow.
• Check for the greenish tail and wings on the Green-tailed Towhee.
• Note the size difference, with the Green-tailed Towhee being larger.
• Listen for the mew calls of the Green-tailed Towhee.
• Observe the habitat: rocky hillsides for Rufous-crowned Sparrow, shrub-steppe for Green-tailed Towhee.

Size

The Green-tailed Towhee is slightly larger than the Rufous-crowned Sparrow.

Plumage

The Rufous-crowned Sparrow features a rufous crown and a generally brownish body with a streaked back. In contrast, the Green-tailed Towhee has a greenish tail and wings, with a gray body and a rufous cap.

Behaviour

Both species are ground foragers, but the Green-tailed Towhee often uses a bilateral scratching technique while foraging.

Habitat

Rufous-crowned Sparrows are typically found in arid, rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation, while Green-tailed Towhees prefer shrub-steppe habitats and montane forests.

Voice

The Green-tailed Towhee is known for its ascending, catlike mew calls and diverse song of jumbled notes and trills, whereas the Rufous-crowned Sparrow's vocalizations are less well-documented but are generally simpler.