California Towhees in Oregon
When California towhees are present in Oregon, when they nest, which native Oregon plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9b yard.
- Status in Oregon
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9b
- Range note
- Southwestern Oregon.
When to expect California towhees in Oregon
California Towhees live in Oregon all year — southwestern Oregon. Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.
Nesting in Oregon
Across Oregon, California towhees typically nest from March–July. Nest site: cup in dense shrubs. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 11 days, and young leave the nest after 8 days.
Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.
- California Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, rabbitbrush for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Oregon plants that attract California towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Oregon, these 8 provide food or cover California towhees use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding California towhees through the Oregon year
Pairs stay together for years in one yard; famously attacks its reflection in windows and hubcaps.
- Best foods: Millet, Sunflower chips.
- In Oregon's winter: Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.
Full diet breakdown for California towhees · Best feeder for California towhees
Frequently asked
Are California towhees in Oregon year-round?
Yes. California Towhees are year-round residents in Oregon. Southwestern Oregon.
When do California towhees nest in Oregon?
Nesting in Oregon typically runs March–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 11 days.
What native plants attract California towhees in Oregon?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Oregon that provide food or cover for California towhees.
California Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Oregon
Sources
- California Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- California Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- California Towhee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Oregon
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.