Green-tailed Towhee in January
Where green-tailed towhees are in January, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
January in the Green-tailed Towhee's year
January is the coldest month across most of the US and Canada. Natural food is at its scarcest — insects are dormant, many seed heads are stripped, and snow cover hides what remains. Birds concentrate where food is reliable, which makes this the single best month to watch a well-stocked feeding station.
For the Green-tailed Towhee specifically, January is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 12 states and provinces where green-tailed towhees occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where green-tailed towhees are in January
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- winter visitor
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In January, green-tailed towhees are absent in the South, winter visitor across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in January
Green-tailed towhees are not nesting in January. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, green-tailed towhees put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in January
- Grass and forb seeds
Scratches under mountain shrubbery and visits ground feeding areas near dense cover, especially on migration.
Keep feeders consistently filled; birds add dependable stations to their daily foraging routes and suffer when one suddenly runs empty during a cold snap. High-energy foods matter most now.
Full Green-tailed Towhee diet guide → · Best feeder for green-tailed towhees →
Watching green-tailed towhees this month
Green-tailed towhees are settled and predictable in January, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region green-tailed towhees are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Green-tailed Towhee month by month
Green-tailed Towhee by state
Frequently asked
Where are green-tailed towhees in January?
In January, green-tailed towhees are absent in the South, winter visitor across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do green-tailed towhees nest in January?
No — green-tailed towhees typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do green-tailed towhees eat in January?
Grass and forb seeds.
Sources
- Green-tailed Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Green-tailed Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Green-tailed Towhee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.