Land Birds: Songbirds

Emberizine Sparrow Allies: Buntings, Juncos, Longspurs, Towhees

This group includes Juncos (2 species), Buntings (4 species), Longspurs (4 species), and Towhees (6 species).

Green-tailed Towhee prefers dense brush; California & Canyon Towhees are similar but their distribution ranges do not overlap.

The Lark Bunting is found in arid areas, and differs from sparrows in voice, plumage, and structure. Dark-eyed Junco’s plumage is very variable (6 populations).

Longspurs inhabit the prairie and/or tundra and are stocky, with conical, mildly pointed bills. The Chestnut-collared Longspur depends on native prairie grasslands for breeding and its population has declined with the loss of praries to cropland and urban development.