Green-Tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
The Green-Tailed Towhee prefers shrub habitats and open areas of mountain forest for breeding. In summer, this bird ranges over much of the western USA, but they spend winters in the American Southwest and Mexico. This bird is the smallest of our towhees, though they are still larger than other members of the sparrow clan.
These towhees are one of the more under-studied species in the USA. Things we know (or believe) include:
- Their population seems stable.
- They are monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
- Breeders prefer species-rich shrub communities and disturbed and open areas of montane forests.
- Their nests are vulnerable to predators, requiring breeding pairs to rebuild and begin anew as many as four times a season.
My meetings with this species so far have been in southern Oregon, California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada region, and in southern Arizona. I am looking forward to my next meeting, no matter where it occurs.
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34 Photos
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:29 9:18 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722884-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: (Pipilo chlorurus) Adult bird seen at the cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona USA 2015-10-29. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:29 9:07 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722868-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Tubac Arizona, near the Tubac Bridge over the Santa Cruz River. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:26 15:41 |
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Location:
Tubac |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/14.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D722220-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 7:56 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X6908-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: A shy bird I met while traversing the Siskiyou Mountains from the Applegate Valley to Mount Ashland Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:11 12:59 |
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Location:
Siskiyou Mountains |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X9996-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Where the pines meet grasslands Along Highway 140 east of Lakeview Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:04 14:39 |
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Location:
Highway 140 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X8419-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Juvenile on White Mountain at about 9300 feet elevation. Northern Inyo County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:09 17:21 |
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Location:
White Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X7808-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Molting juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-08. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:36 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7404-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:03 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7387-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Adult bird found west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:02 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X7383-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:01 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7373-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Adult bird seen west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-08. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:08 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7309-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: West of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 10:08 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X7307-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Juvenile at the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California USA 2014-08-07. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:21 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6954-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: At the northeastern edge of June Lake, where sage meets shore. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:07 8:19 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6948-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: My meeting with this species at the cienega at Arivaca have come in autumn, but they might be here year-round. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR and over the years, one of my favorite birding destinations. Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:27 11:17 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X5721-Arivaca |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
|
Description: My meeting with this species at the cienega at Arivaca have come in autumn, but they might be here year-round. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR and over the years, one of my favorite birding destinations. Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:27 11:13 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X5687-Arivaca |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
|
Description: My meeting with this species at the cienega at Arivaca have come in autumn, but they might be here year-round. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR and over the years, one of my favorite birding destinations. Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:27 11:12 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X5662-Arivaca |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
|
Description: My meeting with this species at the cienega at Arivaca have come in autumn, but they might be here year-round. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR and over the years, one of my favorite birding destinations. Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:27 11:12 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X5639-Arivaca |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
|
Description: My meeting with this species at the cienega at Arivaca have come in autumn, but they might be here year-round. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR and over the years, one of my favorite birding destinations. Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:27 10:36 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X5539-Arivaca |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: (Pipilo chlorurus) Adult seen at Garnet Queen Creek Crossing on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-10. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:10 11:11 |
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Location:
Ribbonwood |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X2511-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: In full song in the Upper Owens River Valley, near Lake Crowley. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:05:29 12:01 |
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Location:
Whitmore Hot Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD8905-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Tubac Arizona, near the Tubac Bridge over the Santa Cruz River. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:26 15:43 |
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Location:
Tubac |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722226-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Near Oh Ridge Road at the north end of June Lake in California. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:08 17:11 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D72-1928-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Near Oh Ridge Road at the north end of June Lake in California. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:08 17:10 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D72-1915-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Near Oh Ridge Road at the north end of June Lake in California. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:08 17:05 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D72-1894-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Near Oh Ridge Road at the north end of June Lake in California. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:08 17:04 |
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Location:
June Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D72-1884-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 18:09 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727221-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Mono Lake Picnic Area in the northwest shore. Near Lee Vining in Mono County, just off US-395. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 8:06 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X8476-MonoLake |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Mono Lake Picnic Area in the northwest shore. Near Lee Vining in Mono County, just off US-395. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 7:50 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X8427-MonoLake |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: Mono Lake Picnic Area in the northwest shore. Near Lee Vining in Mono County, just off US-395. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 7:47 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X8407-MonoLake |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
|
Description: Mono Lake Picnic Area in the northwest shore. Near Lee Vining in Mono County, just off US-395. |
Date Taken: 2017:07:12 7:47 |
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Location:
Mono Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreenTailedTowhee_D5X8401-MonoLake |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: On White Mountain at about 9300 feet elevation. Northern Inyo County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:09 17:19 |
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Location:
White Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X7800-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
|
Description: Juvenile west of Highway 395, north of June Lake Junction. Mono County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:08 11:36 |
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Location:
June Lake Junction |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7404-GreenTailedTowhee-Juvenile-1 |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
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