Pipilo fuscus

Our Canyon Towhees are raising young now. The juveniles look very much like a female House Finch, except they are about twice as large. Like the House Finch, they have streaked feathers on the breast, and do not show the characteristic dark spot on the front center of the breast like the adult Towhees have. Normally seed and insect eaters, this bird obviously is trying to figure out if some algae from the pond makes a good meal. He spent a couple of minutes tugging on a piece and finally got this tuft out to play with (and maybe eat some). He also later tried out some flower blossoms, and a little caterpillar.