Skip to main content

California Towhee

Melozone crissalis

Brown sparrow with rusty undertail coverts and clear demeanor. Year-round Bay Area resident that forages on ground for seeds and insects, controlling pest populations.

Plants that support California Towhee

5 plants

California Bay Laurel

Umbellularia californica

moderate

tree

Year-round resident; forages on fallen fruits and insects in dense bay laurel understory

Bay Area native

Fairy Fans

Clarkia breweri

moderate

annual

year-round resident, seeds important in fall-winter diet

Bay Area native

Miner's Lettuce*

Claytonia perfoliata subsp. intermontana

moderate

annual

Resident species utilizing this resource throughout the year

Bay Area native

Pacific Poison Oak

Toxicodendron diversilobum

moderate

shrub

Year-round resident; consistent food source

Bay Area native

Yellow Bush Penstemon

Keckiella antirrhinoides

moderate

perennial herb

Seed consumption in fall; year-round resident utilizing available seed resources

Bay Area native