Green-tailed Towhee peeking out of sage – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
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.
A few minutes prior to this sighting I had photographed a Green-tailed Towhee singing from the top of a small conifer from a distance. This might be the same bird. I can’t be sure.
The light angle I had on the towhee wasn’t the best but I knew if I started my Jeep the bird would dash into the shrubs and disappear. The towhee was so close to me that I opted to take portraits of it. I watched this towhee capture prey and eat it. The prey looked like a hoverfly in my images.
Green-tailed Towhees are colorful members of the sparrow family. This time of the year these towhees can be much easier to spot than they are later in the breeding season.
The towhee popped in and out of my view and when it was hidden in the low-growing shrubs I photographed the marmots. When the towhee showed itself I photographed it. It was fun having the marmots and the towhee so close together and sharing them with my friend Steve.
An Unusual Bird Sighting Of Note
Before leaving the area and getting back onto Mirror Lake Highway to head higher up me and Steve saw a Northern Mockingbird which surprised both of us. I’d never seen a Northern Mockingbird that high up in the Uinta Mountains before. I’d never seen a Northern Mockingbird in the Uinta Mountains period. I checked on eBird and there aren’t any sightings listed on it for that area of Mirror Lake Highway. I didn’t think to take a documentary photo of the mockingbird and now I wish I had.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Green-tailed Towhee photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great shot of a beautiful bird. The eye-contact is perfect. Thanks Mia.
I’m really glad you take close-up photos, no matter what the light or background (or foreground), because you let us see details we would never see. Thanks again.
You may have wished for a better light angle, but you certainly got a lot of detail in this photograph!
What a beautiful bird! Only seen one once at a distance.
Have a great weekend.
I loved watching and listening to the song of this species in the mountains of New Mexico. Your link was very informative and that is a great selection of photos. The rather indescript immature birds can present an ID challenge.