White-throated Towhee

The white-throated towhee (Melozone albicollis) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is endemic to Mexico. == Taxonomy and systematics == The white-throated towhee was formally described in 1858 with the binomial Pipilo albicollis. Following a study published in 2009 the white-throated towhee and three other species were transferred from Pipilo to Melozone, a genus that had been erected in 1850. The white-throated towhee has two subspecies, the nominate M. a. albicollis (Sclater, PL, 1858) and M. a. marshalli (Parkes, 1974). == Description == The white-throated towhee is a large sparrow with a long tail, 18.5 to 22.5 cm (7.3 to 8.9 in) long and weighing 42 to 50 g (1.5 to 1.8 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a brown crown and nape. They have a white supercilium to the eye, some whitish below the eye, and a blackish stripe on the cheek. The rest of their face is brown above and chestnut below. Their upperparts and tail are brown. Their wing is mostly brown with white on the median coverts that shows as two wing bars. Their chin is white and their throat rusty…