Pipilo chlorurus – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Young Green-tailed Towhee In A Serviceberry

By Mia McPherson|2022-09-10T03:38:14-05:00September 10th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: Amelanchier alnifolia, berries, berry, canyon, flowering shrub, fruiting shrub, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, juvenile, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, Saskatoon, serviceberries, serviceberry, sparrow, sparrows, summer, towhee, towhees, Western Serviceberry, young|

I found this young Green-tailed Towhee perched in a serviceberry high in a mountain canyon on a sunny morning on the last day of July this year.

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Birds On A Jackleg Fence

By Mia McPherson|2022-08-31T07:29:02-05:00August 31st, 2022|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Lark Sparrows, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, buck and rail fence, canyon, Chondestes grammacus, fence, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, jack leg fence, jackleg fence, Lark Sparrow, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, riparian habitat, sparrow, sparrows, summer, towhee, towhees, wooden fence, young|

Yesterday while I was up in the mountains savoring the cool air I photographed a couple of birds on an old wooden jackleg fence that I had parked close to.

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Young Green-tailed Towhee In The Wasatch Mountains

By Mia McPherson|2022-08-10T03:53:23-05:00August 10th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: canyon, damp, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, juvenile, messy, mountains, old, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, sparrow, sparrows, stump, summer, towhee, towhees, weathered, young|

On Sunday I was delighted when this damp young Green-tailed Towhee popped up on an old weathered stump out in the open for a few moments.

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Low Light Young Green-tailed Towhee

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-28T03:34:09-05:00July 28th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch County|Tags: branch, canyon, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, juvenile, low light, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, riparian habitat, sparrow, sparrows, summer, towhee, towhees, young|

Three mornings ago before the sun rose high enough to light up a willow thicket a young Green-tailed Towhee perched on a branch directly in front of me.

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Juvenile Green-tailed and Spotted Towhee Side By Side

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-10T05:21:54-05:00July 10th, 2022|Categories: Bird ID, Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Salt Lake County, Spotted Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, canyon, chick, comparison, fence post, fledgling, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, Jordan River, juvenile, lichens, low light, male, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, Pipilo maculatus, riparian habitat, river, snow, sparrow, sparrows, Spotted Towhee, spring, summer, towhee, towhees, urban, willows, winter, wooden post, young|

Until two days ago I had never gotten photos of a juvenile Green-tailed and young Spotted Towhee in the same frame so I was thrilled when I saw them fly in.

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Green-tailed Towhee In The Uinta Mountains

By Mia McPherson|2022-06-09T04:54:57-05:00June 9th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Uinta Mountains, Uinta National Forest, Utah|Tags: adult, Artemisia tridentata, Big Sagebrush, close up, Green-tailed Towhee, Mimus polyglottos, mountains, Northern Mockingbird, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, portrait, sage, sagebrush, sparrow, sparrows, spring, towhee, towhees|

While photographing Yellow-bellied Marmots in the high Uinta Mountains two days ago a Green-tailed Towhee popped into my view on top of a mound of sage.

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Green-tailed Towhee Singing From A Treetop

By Mia McPherson|2022-05-27T05:37:00-05:00May 27th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, branches, canyon, forest edge, Green-tailed Towhee, male, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, presumed male, singing, sparrow, sparrows, spring, towhee, towhees, tree, tree top, treetop|

I was delighted to observe, hear and photograph a beautiful Green-tailed Towhee singing from a treetop two days ago high in the Wasatch Mountains.

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World Sparrow Day 2022

By Mia McPherson|2023-11-06T03:43:33-06:00March 20th, 2022|Categories: American Tree Sparrows, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Brewer's Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Daggett County, Dark-eyed Juncos, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Green-tailed Towhees, Harris's Sparrow, House Sparrows, Lark Buntings, Lark Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrows, Morgan County, Sagebrush Sparrows, Salt Lake County, Savannah Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Stansbury Mountains, Summit County, Tooele County, Utah, Vesper Sparrows, Wasatch Mountains, White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows|Tags: adult, American Tree Sparrow, Artemisiospiza nevadensis, Brewer's Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus, Dark-eyed Junco, Green-tailed Towhee, House Sparrow, Junco hyemalis, Lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii, Melospiza melodia, Passer domesticus, Passerculus sandwichensis, Pipilo chlorurus, Pipilo maculatus, Poocetes gramineus, Sagebrush Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, sparrow, sparrows, Spizella breweri, Spizella passerina, Spizelloides arborea, Spotted Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, World Sparrow Day, Zonotrichia albicollis, Zonotrichia leucophrys|

Today is World Sparrow Day and since I love all of the sparrows on the planet I thought I'd share some of the sparrows I have photographed in North America.

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Worn Adult Green-tailed Towhee – Breeding Season Can Be Rough On Their Feathers

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-10T07:32:08-05:00August 12th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, canyon, Green-tailed Towhee, molt, molting, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, riparian habitat, sparrow, sparrows, summer, towhee, towhees, willow, willow thicket, willows, worn|

After a week at home because of smoky skies I ventured into the mountains and one of the first birds I photographed was this worn looking Green-tailed Towhee.

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Bird Identification From A Partial View

By Mia McPherson|2021-07-30T06:35:56-05:00July 30th, 2021|Categories: Bird ID, Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Spotted Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: bird ID, canyon, Green-tailed Towhee, identification, immature, juvenile, mountains, partial view, Pipilo chlorurus, Pipilo maculatus, sparrow, sparrows, Spotted Towhee, summer, towhee, towhees, young|

There are times I take cruddy photos on purpose when I know that my view of the entire bird is obstructed and that I might only have a partial view of the bird.

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Green-tailed Towhee Close Up Photos

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-10T08:05:25-05:00June 25th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, Amelanchier utahensis, canyon, close up, Green-tailed Towhee, metal pipe, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, rusty, serviceberry, sparrow, sparrows, summer, towhee, towhees, Utah Serviceberry|

While photographing nesting House Wrens three days ago I was also able to photograph an adult Green-tailed Towhee up close in a serviceberry shrub.

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Spring Green-tailed Towhee Photo

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-10T08:21:12-05:00May 14th, 2021|Categories: Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, canyon, Green-tailed Towhee, mew call, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, raised crown, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees|

Two days ago I was able to take my first of season Green-tailed Towhee photos in Morgan County high in the Wasatch Mountains.

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Molting Immature Green-tailed Towhee

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-10T08:35:29-05:00September 5th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: branch, disheveled, First Prebasic, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, juvenile, molt, molting, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, Prebasic I, raggedy, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, willow, young|

Green-tailed Towhees that hatched this year undergo a molt on or near their natal breeding grounds prior to fall migration.

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Green-tailed Towhees – He? She? It?

By Mia McPherson|2022-07-10T15:46:22-05:00August 17th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, age, canyon, gender, Green-tailed Towhee, immature, juvenile, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, serviceberry, sex, sparrow, sparrows, summer, towhee, towhees, Utah Serviceberry, young|

This is probably far more information on "He? She? It?" than anyone wanted to see this morning but after photographing the adult and immature Green-tailed Towhees yesterday I thought this was a great time to do this post.

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Well Hello There Green-tailed Towhee – I’ve Been Expecting You

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:38:25-05:00May 30th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, canyon, encrysted, fence post, Green-tailed Towhee, lichen covered, lichens, male, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, side profile, sparrow, sparrows, spring, towhee, towhees, wooden post|

I heard the male Green-tailed Towhee before I could see him perched on the weathered post with lichens on the top so a view of him was no surprise for me.

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Green-tailed Towhees Are Migrating Into Utah

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:41:53-05:00May 3rd, 2020|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: frustrations in bird photography, Green-tailed Towhee, light angle, male, obstructions, out of focus, Pipilo chlorurus, recording, sage, sagebrush, singing, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees|

One year ago today I "whooped" out loud when I spotted my first of the year Green-tailed Towhee singing as he perched in top of a sagebrush.

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Immature Green-tailed Towhee Next To A Creek

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:44:29-05:00July 25th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: bank, canyon, chicks, creek, creek bank., Green-tailed Towhee, ground, immature, juvenile, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, water, young|

This was the first immature Green-tailed Towhee I have seen this breeding season and I am hoping that it won't be the last one I photograph this year.

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Adult Green-tailed Towhee Perched In A Golden Currant Bush

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-16T03:53:02-05:00June 14th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Shrubs, Utah, Wasatch Mountains, Wildflowers|Tags: adult, blooming, Buffalo Currant, Clove Currant, currant, currants, flowering shrub, Golden Currant, Green-tailed Towhee, Missouri Currant, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, Ribes aureum, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, yellow flowers|

I truly wish that I had been able to photograph this adult Green-tailed Towhee in this Golden Currant bush while is was in full bloom because that would have been gorgeous with all the tiny yellow flowers.

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Green-tailed Towhee Close Up

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:48:16-05:00June 6th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, Amelanchier utahensis, blooming, canyon, close up, Green-tailed Towhee, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, serviceberry, shrub, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, Utah Serviceberry|

Looking beyond the viewfinder paid off for me because if I hadn't done just that I would have missed seeing and photographing this Green-tailed Towhee.

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One Brief Glimpse Into The World Of A Green-tailed Towhee

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:49:57-05:00May 30th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, canyon, close up, forest, Green-tailed Towhee, leaves, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, portrait, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, tree|

While I know that for some people this Green-tailed Towhee image might be a "little out there" for their tastes and personal preferences I don't photograph birds for them, I photograph birds for me.

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Green-tailed Towhees Are Returning For Their Breeding Season

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:52:19-05:00April 29th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah|Tags: adult, Amelanchier utahensis, breeding season, canyon, flowering, flowers, forest, Green-tailed Towhee, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, shrub, singing, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, Utah Serviceberry|

When mom and I found this adult Green-tailed Towhee singing while perched on a blooming Utah Serviceberry of course we had to stop and take its photo!

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Roadside Green-tailed Towhee Photos

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:54:26-05:00September 11th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, canyon, foraging, gravel, gravel road, Green-tailed Towhee, grit, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, road, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees|

Two days ago I was able to photograph a Green-tailed Towhee foraging next to a gravel road up in a Wasatch Mountain Canyon, getting these birds out in the open can be a challenge so I was excited that this towhee was in the clear.

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Green-tailed Towhee Perched On A Blooming Utah Serviceberry

By Mia McPherson|2021-07-30T07:42:53-05:00May 31st, 2018|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Shrubs, Utah|Tags: Amelanchier utahensis, blooming, branches, canyon, flowering shrub, flowering tree, forest, Green-tailed Towhee, leaves, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, shrub, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, Utah Serviceberry, Western Serviceberry, white flowers|

I spent some time up in the canyons of the Wasatch Mountains yesterday photographing the birds I found including this handsome Green-tailed Towhee perched on a blooming Utah Serviceberry.

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Green-tailed Towhee Singing In A Mountain Canyon

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T14:59:06-05:00May 25th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Summit County, Utah|Tags: adult, branch, canyon, courtship display, flowering, flowers, forest, Green-tailed Towhee, male, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, serviceberry, shrub, singing, sparrow, sparrows, spring, towhee, towhees|

I had fun yesterday morning photographing a male Green-tailed Towhee singing in a mountain canyon, this was a bird I heard before I spotted him perched on a flowering branch.

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I’m Looking Forward to Photographing Green-tailed Towhees

By Mia McPherson|2021-02-15T07:20:11-06:00May 3rd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah|Tags: adult, alpine, call, canyon, close up, forest, Green-tailed Towhee, males, mountain, mountains, perched, photograph, photographing, Pipilo chlorurus, portrait, song, sparrow, sparrows, spring, territories, towhee, towhees|

Green-tailed Towhees are migratory so I don't see them year round in Utah like I do their close relatives the Spotted Towhees. Green-tailed Towhees spend their winters in the southern most parts of the U.S. and in Mexico and I miss seeing a hearing them while they are away.

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My Year of Bird Photography in 2017

By Mia McPherson|2020-12-29T16:50:22-06:00December 31st, 2017|Categories: American Tree Sparrows, American White Pelicans, Birds, Common Goldeneyes, Green-tailed Towhees, Idaho, Prairie Falcons, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Short-eared Owls, Swainson's Hawks, Utah, Yellow-rumped Warblers|Tags: American Tree Sparrow, American White Pelican, Asio flammeus, bird photography, Bucephala clangula, Buteo jamaicensis, Buteo lagopus, Buteo swainsoni, Common Goldeneye, Corthylio calendula, Falco mexicanus, Green-tailed Towhee, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Pipilo chlorurus, Prairie Falcon, Red-naped Sapsucker, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Setophaga coronata, Short-eared Owl, Sphyrapicus nuchalis, Spizella arborea, Swainson's Hawk, Yellow-rumped Warbler|

I love what I do, I love my subjects and it doesn't matter if I find them close to home or further away. I am blessed. 2017 has been wonderful and I am excited for what 2018 may bring.

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Photographing Green-tailed Towhees Can Be Frustrating – All Birds Can Be

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T15:03:39-05:00June 7th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: adult, fence post, frustrations in bird photography, Green-tailed Towhee, hidden, lichen, photograph, photographing, Pipilo chlorurus, post, sage, sagebrush, sparrow, sparrows, topped, towhee, towhees, wooden post|

I was ready when this Green-tailed Towhee perched on a lichen topped fence post yesterday long enough for me to fire off 30 frames before he flew down to the ground.

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Green-tailed Towhee Singing in the Wasatch Mountains

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T15:12:55-05:00June 1st, 2017|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Morgan County, Utah|Tags: adult, branch, canyon, close up, flowering, flowering shrub, flowers, Green-tailed Towhee, head tilt, leafy, male, mountains, perched, Pipilo chlorurus, portrait, sagebrush, serviceberry, shrub, singing, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, white flowers|

One good bird can make the the day when photographing birds in the field, yesterday that bird was a male Green-tailed Towhee I spotted perched on a shrub in a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains.

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Sky Line Drive and Wasatch Mountain Journeys

By Mia McPherson|2024-03-03T08:35:08-06:00July 16th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Dusky Grouse, Green-tailed Towhees, Moose, Sky Line Drive, Bountiful Canyon, Uinta National Forest, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: Alces alces, alpine meadow, calf, canyons, cow, Dendragapus obscurus, Dusky Grouse, female, gravel, Green-tailed Towhee, grouse, Moose, mountains, Pipilo chlorurus, road, serviceberry, singing, sky, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, upland game birds, wildlife, wildlife photography|

I might need to go wandering up the canyons and Sky Line Drive soon just to see what birds and creatures I can find.

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Green-tailed Towhee high up on Bountiful Canyon

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-13T15:18:56-05:00July 24th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Green-tailed Towhees, Sky Line Drive, Bountiful Canyon, Utah|Tags: adult, birds, bush, canyon, Davis County, Green-tailed Towhee, mountains, photography, Pipilo chlorurus, serviceberry, shrub, sky, sparrow, sparrows, towhee, towhees, Wasatch Mountains|

Last week while heading up the Skyline Drive of Bountiful Canyon this Green-tailed Towhee was singing on top of a shrub and I was surprised when it hung around for about 2 minutes

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