Green-tailed Towhee in Laguna Mountains

I have previously photographed Green-tailed Towhees twice in San Diego. Those photos were so poor and out-of-focus that they were unusable. On a recent visit to the Laguna Mountains I was able to view a couple of birds together that weren't as camera shy as usual. Now I finally have some good photos of Green-tailed Towhees!

San Diego is near the southern edge of this large sparrow's breeding range and the northern edge of their wintering range. San Diego's mountains are also near the altitudinal edge of their preferred habitat: montane chaparral above 5000 feet (San Diego County Bird Atlas, Unitt, 2004). The highest peaks in San Diego are 4900-6500 feet of elevation.

Green-tailed Towhees breed on certain brushy mountains within San Diego County, specifically Cuyamaca Peak. Their primary habitat is Greenleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula) and various shrubs in the genus Ceanothus known collectively as California Lilac. Although there appears to be no evidence for it, I have to wonder if towhees might have increased as breeders after the 2003 fires in the Cuyamacas. Certainly, potential breeding habitat increased, though now beginning to grow back up into forest.

These birds also are found rarely in migration and winter in shrubby landscapes along the coast. Nevertheless, they can really be considered rare, both in absolute numbers and because they are shy and hide very well in thick brush.

I was alerted to the presence of migrant Green-tailed Towhees at Agua Dulce Creek during my visit in October. Two birds were actually not difficult to find. They were feeding out in the open on the trail as Tuck Russell and I found.

Fortunately, they showed some curiosity as to our activities and we were able to get some decent photos. I'm not sure of the shrub--perhaps California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)?

Green-tailed Towhee. Mount Laguna, California. October 7, 2018.