California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis
How to attract the California Towhee to your garden
The California Towhee likes dense cover and leaf litter. Leaf litter is good for many birds as well as most California native plants. This is our shade demonstration garden at our San Luis nursery location. The California Towhees love it and can be heard and seen scratching around in the leaf litter. (Notice, no weeds, grass etc.)
Diet of the California Towhee
The California Towhee forages in the leaf litter by scratching, with both feet at once, in a fast hopping motion. They feed on seeds and insects within the leaf litter or occasionally on berries or seeds in bushes.
Range of the California Towhee
The California Towhee is found in brushy areas west of the Sierras. It is not found in central California as this area lacks the appropriate scrubby plant communities.
Habitat /plant communities used by the California Towhee
The California Towhee enjoys scrubby habitats with leaf litter. They will use open woodlands with dense under story.
Nesting habitats used by the California Towhees
The California Towhee nests in dense shrubs. Some good plants to use for nesting habitat are Scrub oak, Mountain mahogany, or Ceanothus.
Migration of the California Towhee
The California Towhee does not migrate.
