The canyon towhee (Melozone fusca) is a bird of the family Passerellidae.

At the higher level, some authors place the towhees in the family Fringillidae[citation needed].

At present, molecular genetics seems to have settled this issue in favour of separation of the species.

[3] It is earthy brown in color, with somewhat lighter underparts and a somewhat darker head with a rufous cap (except that birds in central Mexico have the cap the same color as the back); there is also a slightly reddish area beneath the tail.

The towhee feeds on the ground or in low scrub rather than in the tree canopy.