Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
The Canyon Towhee is a year-round resident of southwestern USA and Mexico. They live in scrub along dry watercourses and upland desert scrub at lower desert elevations, and upward into higher-elevation pine-oak or even coniferous forests.
Older references list the scientific name of this bird as Pipilo fuscus, but the genus name has recently changed to Melozone. For many years, scientists have debated the status of “Brown Towhees”. Some would have us lump the California Towhee and the Canyon Towhee into a single species. It seems the introduction of genetic information supports the argument for separating them into their own distinct species.
Today’s science recognizes 10 subspecies of Canyon Towhee:
- M. f. mesoleuca lives in Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and Northern Mexico.
- M. f. mesata lives in Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
- M. f. texana lives in Texas and Northern Mexico.
- M. f. intermedia lives in central and southern Mexico.
- M. f. jamesi lives only on Tiburón Island (Mexico).
- M. f. perpallida lives in west central Mexico.
- M. f. potosina lives in central and northeastern Mexico.
- M. f. fusca lives in southern Mexico.
- M. f. campoi lives in southeastern Mexico.
- M. f. toroi lives in southern Mexico.
To date, most of my meetings with Canyon Towhees have been in Arizona, though they range across New Mexico and West Texas, and south, deep into the Mexican interior plateaus. While I visited Davis Mountains State Park, the Guadalupe Mountains and at the Kickapoo Caverns region in south-central Texas, I also enjoyed the company of these birds.
35 Photos
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 16:36 |
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Location:
Oatman |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X8679-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 16:39 |
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Location:
Oatman |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X8699-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 16:53 |
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Location:
Oatman |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X8707-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 17:13 |
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Location:
Oatman |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X8766-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 17:15 |
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Location:
Oatman |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X8790-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 15:14 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: D722034-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Redington Pass, Rincon Mountains, East of Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:06:23 16:31 |
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Location:
Redington Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD_6849CanyonTowhee |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Redington Pass, Rincon Mountains, East of Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:06:23 16:26 |
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Location:
Redington Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_6842CanyonTowhee |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Redington Pass, Rincon Mountains, East of Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:06:23 16:24 |
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Location:
Redington Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_6836CanyonTowhee |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Redington Pass, Rincon Mountains, East of Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:06:23 16:36 |
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Location:
Redington Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_6853CanyonTowhee |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 6:56 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_D5X0469 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 6:53 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_D5X0455 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 17:13 |
|
Location:
Oatman |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X8782-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 16:57 |
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Location:
Oatman |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X8743-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Silver Creek area, east of Bullhead City, near Oatman, Arizona. In Golden Valley. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:03 16:39 |
|
Location:
Oatman |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X8699-CanyonTowhee-1 |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Canyon Towhees joined the mob of birds to exploit the standing water. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 10:06 |
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Location:
Pine Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_D5X5137-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Canyon Towhees joined the mob of birds to exploit the standing water. The morning after I arrived, the birds found a temporary watering hole at Pine Springs Camp. The event at Guadalupe National Park was a memorable one for me. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:28 10:04 |
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Location:
Pine Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_D5X5096-GuadalupeMountain-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Aguirre Springs Campground is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Organ Mountains to the east of Las Cruces New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:02 14:13 |
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Location:
Aquirre Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_D5X2860-AguirreSprings |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: I spent much of my stay at Davis Mountains State Park working on images and stories from earlier episodes from my expedition. But on my third day in the park, I drove up-slope to Skyline Drive and looked for Montezuma Quail. Up on the ridge, sparrows, towhees, flycatchers, and orioles were easy to find. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:06 9:34 |
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Location:
Davis Mountains State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X9525_DavisMountains.SP-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: I spent much of my stay at Davis Mountains State Park working on images and stories from earlier episodes from my expedition. But on my third day in the park, I drove up-slope to Skyline Drive and looked for Montezuma Quail. Up on the ridge, sparrows, towhees, flycatchers, and orioles were easy to find. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:06 9:33 |
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Location:
Davis Mountains State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X9501_DavisMountains.SP-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: I spent much of my stay at Davis Mountains State Park working on images and stories from earlier episodes from my expedition. But on my third day in the park, I drove up-slope to Skyline Drive and looked for Montezuma Quail. Up on the ridge, sparrows, towhees, flycatchers, and orioles were easy to find. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:06 9:33 |
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Location:
Davis Mountains State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X9490_DavisMountains.SP-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Before I settled in at my campsite at Davis Mountains State Park, I stopped at their “Wildlife Viewing Area”. The light wasn’t great, but the birds were pretty nice. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:04 15:26 |
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Location:
Davis Mountains State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X9764_DavisMountains.SP-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Before I settled in at my campsite at Davis Mountains State Park, I stopped at their “Wildlife Viewing Area”. The light wasn’t great, but the birds were pretty nice. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:04 15:21 |
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Location:
Davis Mountains State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X9598_DavisMountains.SP-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: On my 2023 tour of North America, I paid my third visit to Kickapoo Caverns State Park outside of Brackettville Texas. Unlike my first two visits, this time, there were plenty of birds to meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:02 14:50 |
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Location:
Kickapoo Caverns State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X6488_KickapooCaverns-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: On my 2023 tour of North America, I paid my third visit to Kickapoo Caverns State Park outside of Brackettville Texas. Unlike my first two visits, this time, there were plenty of birds to meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:02 14:50 |
|
Location:
Kickapoo Caverns State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X6482_KickapooCaverns-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Gardner Canyon Road leaves AZ-83 four miles north of Sonoita and ascends the eastern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains. I stopped there to spend the night and see what birds I might meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:03:19 11:46 |
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Location:
Gardner Canyon Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX92400_GardnerCanyon_Sonoita-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Gardner Canyon Road leaves AZ-83 four miles north of Sonoita and ascends the eastern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains. I stopped there to spend the night and see what birds I might meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:03:19 11:46 |
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Location:
Gardner Canyon Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX92402_GardnerCanyon_Sonoita-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Gardner Canyon Road leaves AZ-83 four miles north of Sonoita and ascends the eastern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains. I stopped there to spend the night and see what birds I might meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:03:19 12:26 |
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Location:
Gardner Canyon Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX92702_GardnerCanyon_Sonoita-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: On my 2023 tour of North America, I paid my third visit to Kickapoo Caverns State Park outside of Brackettville Texas. Unlike my first two visits, this time, there were plenty of birds to meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:02 14:50 |
|
Location:
Kickapoo Caverns State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X6462_KickapooCaverns-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: On my 2023 tour of North America, I paid my third visit to Kickapoo Caverns State Park outside of Brackettville Texas. Unlike my first two visits, this time, there were plenty of birds to meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:06:30 10:20 |
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Location:
Kickapoo Caverns State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X5035_KickapooCaverns-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: On my 2023 tour of North America, I paid my third visit to Kickapoo Caverns State Park outside of Brackettville Texas. Unlike my first two visits, this time, there were plenty of birds to meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:06:30 10:20 |
|
Location:
Kickapoo Caverns State Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_Z9X5024_KickapooCaverns-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Historic Redington Road runs east out of Tucson through some very rugged country. I stopped on the eastern slopes to spend time with the birds and make camp. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:02 14:09 |
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Location:
Redington Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX97518_RedingtonRoad-Tucson-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Historic Redington Road runs east out of Tucson through some very rugged country. I stopped on the eastern slopes to spend time with the birds and make camp. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:02 14:09 |
|
Location:
Redington Road |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX97506_RedingtonRoad-Tucson-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Historic Redington Road runs east out of Tucson through some very rugged country. I stopped on the eastern slopes to spend time with the birds and make camp. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:02 14:02 |
|
Location:
Redington Road |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX97393_RedingtonRoad-Tucson-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
|
Description: Historic Redington Road runs east out of Tucson through some very rugged country. I stopped on the eastern slopes to spend time with the birds and make camp. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:02 13:58 |
|
Location:
Redington Road |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CanyonTowhee_ZX97343_RedingtonRoad-Tucson-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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