Green-tailed Towhee

[c.j.]

Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus

The sexes are similar in markings. They usually prefer thickets and tend to forage in low cover.This guy, in particular, I hand scatter seed to him, in a specific spot. He'll follow me around the grounds when his feeder is empty and he would like some seed. However, when impatient, he'll jump tree to tree, hoping to get noticed and rewarded with some food.

Thanks to all for the critiques and feedback. I've been taking photos for a while, but, never knew any of the technical aspects of the camera. I have just moved into a better camera, so, there will be a learning curve to get up to speed.

We've 'checked off the list' over 100 species of birds that have frequented our place, (most verified by Dr's Al and Dale Zimmerman). There are quite a few to go!

[paulnj]

It sure looks like you have a great setup in your yard! That second images is GREAT!

[Knight]

"over 100 species of birds that have frequented our place"
Wish i was so lucky and i almost live in the woods lol . Great Captures ,you say that you have just upgraded your camera ? what did you use before and what did you upgrade 2 ?

[c.j.]

It sure looks like you have a great setup in your yard!

We do have a nice set up. We have six seed feeders, four thistle (goldfinch, pine siskin) feeders, and seven hummingbird feeders. I've been feeding them for a decade, so they are quite accustomed to my presence. We are on a major flyway/migration route, at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. I've also put in over 100 native plants and flowers. Not only do we have myriad bird species, but butterflies, as well.

I noted that you mentioned being in Phoenix, but didn't venture south with the logical conclusion that it would be hotter down here. Actually, not the case, as our elevation is higher. I'm about ten to twelve degrees cooler than Phoenix during the day and twenty to thirty degrees cooler at night.

Next time you're out here, feel free to come by and 'bird' our place.

[c.j.]

"over 100 species of birds that have frequented our place"
Wish i was so lucky and i almost live in the woods lol . Great Captures ,you say that you have just upgraded your camera ? what did you use before and what did you upgrade 2 ?

We're right about 130 in total numbers identified.The following list was compiled with the assistance of Dr's Alan and Dale Zimmerman (reknown desert and bird experts.) It hasn't been updated in five years, so a number of additional species need to be added.

I had/have an old Epson 2.1 megapixel, purchased nine years ago. I purchased a Canon Rebel XT Digital SLR. I had a couple lenses from a Canon EOS SLR that has been in the family for years. A good friend has lent me three lenses so, I'm really enjoying learning how to use them.


Note: This is what has been seen from our grounds, it DOES NOT include species sited in the surrounding mountains.



Bird List

NON-PASSERINE BIRDS:
huge primitive soaring birds overhead:
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron

diurnal raptors:
Red-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
Harris’ Hawk
Golden Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Harrier
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
night birds:
Poor-will
Lesser Nighthawk
Great Horned Owl
Western Screech Owl
Elf Owl

game birds:
Gambel’s Quail
Scaled Quail
Northern Bob-white Quail
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove
Inca Dove

cuckoos:
Greater Roadrunner

swifts:
White-throated Swift

hummingbirds:
Anna’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Blue-throated Hummingbird

woodpeckers:
Gila Woodpecker
Ladderback Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Gilded Flicker
Yellow shafted Flicker
Red-shafted Flicker


PASSERINE BIRDS:
flycatchers:
Vermilion Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Empidonax species (flycatchers)
Western Kingbird
Say’s Phoebe

corvids:
Common Raven
Scrub Jay
Gray-breasted (Mexican) Jay
Steller’s Jay

shrikes:
Loggerhead Shrike

mimic thrushes, true thrushes, wrens:
Cactus Wren
Bewick’s Wren
House Wren
Rock Wren
Curve-billed Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Hermit Thrush

the Phainopepla:
Phainopepla

tiny twit-birds:
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
White-breasted Nuthatch
Verdin
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bell’s Vireo
Lucy’s Warbler
Audubon’s (Yellow-rumped) Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler

tanagers:
Western Tanager

swallows:
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Violet-green Swallow

icterids:
Great-tailed Grackle
(Desert Grassland) Eastern Meadowlark
Bronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Hooded Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole
Scotts Oriole

various finch-like birds:
Black-headed Grosbeak
Abert’s Towhee
Canyon (Brown) Towhee
Spotted (Rufous-sided) Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee
Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Lazuli Bunting
Lark Bunting

sparrows and more finches:
Black-throated Sparrow
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (multiple subspecies)
Oregon
Pink-sided
Gray-headed
Slate-colored
White-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Finch
Cassins Finch
Red Crossbill

no Starlings yet: We are far outside of the city.

[paulnj]

That a pretty sweet setup and the list is quite good too All you need now is prairie falcon, merlin,crissal thrasher, plain capped starthroat, calliope, acorn WP, lewis's WP and arizona WP I went through that list and it seems you have 4 I haven't seen;) I want images of every bird I have seen though and I am way behind

I really want to get out that way again, so maybe I will take you up on that offer someday.

[c.j.]

That a pretty sweet setup and the list is quite good too All you need now is prairie falcon, merlin,crissal thrasher, plain capped starthroat, calliope, acorn WP, lewis's WP and arizona WP I went through that list and it seems you have 4 I haven't seen;) I want images of every bird I have seen though and I am way behind

I'm trying to get a library of what I've seen from my place. I took pictures of a white-throated sparrow, this morning, so that can be added to the list.

I've seem prairie falcon from here, just not on list. Merlin, I've seen south in the Santa Rita Mountains and up behind the house in the Santa Catalina Mountains, but, not actually from my place.

I really want to get out that way again, so maybe I will take you up on that offer someday.

That's a real offer, so, look me up when you're out here. In fact, if any locals want to 'come bird' in exchange for teaching me something about my camera, I'm all for it. I've had advanced Photoshop schooling, so maybe I could share a little of that…

[paulnj]

I am more than willing to help you learn your gear and suck at PS

Drop me a PM with what you want to know and about what gear and I will send you links that are helpful. I am not by an means an expert on anything, but am willing to try ;)