Abert's Towhee
A Sonoran Desert towhee that needs dense riverside-style shrub cover and leaf litter much more than a typical feeder.
By Birdly Yard Editorial TeamReviewed Updated
Local season
Months with a state-level historical signal for this species.
Status
Backyard reports
Look for it
Look deep in cottonwood-willow understory, mesquite bosque, brushy streambeds, and suitably planted Phoenix-area yards.
Food
Mostly insects year-round, plus grass, saltbush, and other small seeds found while rummaging through soil and leaf litter.
Nesting
Natural nesting guidance
One useful next step
Build for the habitat, not just the feeder.
Dense cottonwood-willow riparian forest, mesquite woodland, native shrubs, and shaded understory along Southwestern rivers.
See the yard actionsA good yard is layered
Food helps, but cover, clean water, native plants, and a safe distance from hazards make a more dependable place for birds.
Abert's Towhee habitat
Dense cottonwood-willow riparian forest, mesquite woodland, native shrubs, and shaded understory along Southwestern rivers.
Abert's Towhee diet and food
Mostly insects year-round, plus grass, saltbush, and other small seeds found while rummaging through soil and leaf litter.
Water, native understory, and clean restrained feeding stations can help near brushy stream habitat; do not rely on seed alone.
How to attract it
Food & feeder
Mostly insects year-round, plus grass, saltbush, and other small seeds found while rummaging through soil and leaf litter.
Cover & plants
Dense cottonwood-willow riparian forest, mesquite woodland, native shrubs, and shaded understory along Southwestern rivers.
Abert's Towhee nesting and breeding
Builds a bulky cup in dense shrubs, mesquite, cottonwood, or other shaded vegetation several feet above ground.
Abert's Towhee behavior and where to look
Uses a double-scratch through leaf litter to uncover insects and seeds, spending much of its time inside dense cover.
Photography
Wait outside dense riverside cover and let the bird emerge naturally; do not enter or clear nesting understory.
What to avoid
Avoid stripping dense native understory or replacing it entirely with open ornamental landscaping.
Continue exploring
Explore related bird guides
Compare food, habitat and nesting. Local seasonal records vary by species.
