Spotted Towhee

The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) is a robust New World sparrow, comparable in size to a robin. It boasts a long, dark tail with distinctive white corners and a stout body with bright red eyes and subdued pink legs. The species measures between 17 and 21 centimeters in length and tips the scales at 33 to 49 grams, with a wingspan of approximately 28 centimeters.

Identification Tips

Adult male Spotted Towhees present with a darker head, upper body, and tail contrasted by a white belly and rufous flanks. Their backs and wings are adorned with white spots. Females are similarly patterned but exhibit dark brown and grey hues instead of black. Both sexes feature white spotting on their primary and secondary feathers, a trait not shared by their Eastern Towhee counterparts.

Habitat

The Spotted Towhee favors dry upland forests, open woodlands, brushy fields, and chaparral environments. It thrives in areas with dense ground cover, which provides ample foraging opportunities and protection from predators.

Distribution

This bird is native to northwestern North America, with year-round populations in states such as California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and southern British Columbia. It avoids arid regions like the Sonoran Desert but can be found in northern Arizona and throughout California, barring the southeast corner adjacent to Arizona.

Behaviour

Spotted Towhees are ground foragers, often seen rummaging through leaf litter with a characteristic rustling sound. They are known to nest on the ground or low in bushes, rarely above 1.5 meters from the ground. These birds are adept at concealing their nests during construction.

Song & Calls

The Spotted Towhee's call is a harsh and varied sound, distinct from the Eastern Towhee's vocalizations.

Breeding

Females construct substantial nests from leaves, bark, twigs, and grasses, lined with finer materials like pine needles and hair. They lay two broods per season, each consisting of three to five eggs that are grayish or creamy-white with reddish-brown spots. Incubation lasts 12 to 14 days, and the young fledge at 10 to 12 days of age.

Diet and Feeding

During the breeding season, Spotted Towhees primarily consume insects, beetles, spiders, and other arthropods found in leaf litter. In the fall and winter, their diet shifts to acorns, seeds, oats, and berries. They may also visit bird feeders in woodland areas.

Conservation status

The Spotted Towhee is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.