When is a Spotted Towhee not a spotted towhee?

When it's one of the Pacific coastal forms _Pipilo maculatus
oregonus_ (aka Oregon Towhee) which can show few to no spots.


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Subject: Towhee coloration ?
From: "J Bonham" <jvbonham AT msn.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 21:21:20 -0800

Since the song of the Spotted Towhee is in question, I would like a
little more
info on the coloration. I know each bird is separate and has different
color
patterns. There is a Spotted Towhee here off and all since September,
and it
has basically no white spotting. (Even with the camera's eye looking) Is
it
fairly common to have this particular species that has little or no
white
spotting on it?

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--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

If you want to end war and stuff, you've got to sing loud
- Arlo Guthrie