Towhee

A towhee is any one of a number of species of birds in the genus Pipilo or Melozone within the family Passerellidae (which also includes American sparrows and juncos).

Most species tend to avoid humans, so they are not well-known, though the eastern towhee P. erythrophthalmus is bolder.

Two species complexes have been identified, the rufous-sided complex (involving Pipilo erythrophthalmus, P. maculatus, P. socorroensis, P. ocai and P. chlorurus), and the brown towhee complex (involving Melozone crissalis, M. fusca, M. aberti and M. albicollis).

The distinction of species within these is uncertain and opinions have differed over the years.

Hybrids are frequent between some of the species, particularly between the Mexican races of P. maculatus ("olive-backed towhee", P. m. macronyx) and P. ocai.