Immature Green-tailed Towhee, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahImmature Green-tailed Towhee – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The morning I photographed the Spotted Sandpiper chicks near a creek up in the Wasatch Mountains I also photographed other young birds and I wanted to share an image of one today.

This immature Green-tailed Towhee was in some bushes when it dashed out into the open briefly as it ran across the bank of a creek and stopped to look around. I was able to take a few images of it while it was stationary and had turned its head in my direction. Although it doesn’t have the rufous crown of an adult Green-tailed Towhee the green on the tail of this youngster sure stands out. It was still early in the morning when I took this photo and the young bird’s shadow is evidence of that.

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. As beautiful as I think the adult towhees are I find these young birds especially appealing because of their more subtle coloration.

Outside of the breeding season adult Green-tailed Towhees can be challenging to find and photograph because they can hide so easily in their preferred habitat but during the breeding season the males will sing on their territory which can make it easier to locate them and I am grateful that they sing on top of shrubs and bushes so I can photograph them.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Green-tailed Towhee photos plus facts and information about this species.