Montana · Summer breeder

Green-tailed Towhees in Montana

When green-tailed towhees are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.

New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurus

Status in Montana: Summer breeder
Nesting window: June–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–6a

When to expect green-tailed towhees in Montana

Green-tailed Towhees are summer residents in Montana, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.

Nesting in Montana

Across Montana, green-tailed towhees typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.

Green-tailed 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 Montana plants that attract green-tailed towhees

Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 8 provide food or cover green-tailed towhees use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Rocky Mountain bee plant

Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Feeding green-tailed towhees through the Montana year

Top foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower (on the ground).
In Montana's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for green-tailed towhees · Best feeder for green-tailed towhees

Frequently asked

Are green-tailed towhees in Montana year-round?

No. Green-tailed Towhees are summer breeders in Montana and leave for the winter.

When do green-tailed towhees nest in Montana?

Nesting in Montana typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.

What native plants attract green-tailed towhees in Montana?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for green-tailed towhees.

Green-tailed Towhees in other regions

Arizona California Colorado Idaho Nevada New Mexico Oregon Texas Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Montana

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.