Canyon Towhees in Arizona

Canyon Towhees live in Arizona all year. Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.

Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.

Across Arizona, canyon towhees typically nest from March–August. Nest site: cup in cactus, shrubs or small trees. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 11 days, and young leave the nest after 8–9 days.

Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.

• Canyon Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rabbitbrush, palo verde for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover canyon towhees use:

A tame desert-grassland bird that feeds under patio feeders.

• Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
• In Arizona's winter: Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow.

Full diet breakdown for canyon towhees · Best feeder for canyon towhees