Canyon Towhees in Colorado
When canyon towhees are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–August
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect canyon towhees in Colorado
Canyon Towhees live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, canyon towhees typically nest from April–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.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Canyon Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rabbitbrush for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Colorado plants that attract canyon towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover canyon 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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding canyon towhees through the Colorado year
A tame desert-grassland bird that feeds under patio feeders.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for canyon towhees · Best feeder for canyon towhees
Frequently asked
Are canyon towhees in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Canyon Towhees are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do canyon towhees nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs April–August, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 11 days.
What native plants attract canyon towhees in Colorado?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for canyon towhees.
Canyon Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Canyon Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Canyon Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Canyon Towhee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- 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.