Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) is a robust sparrow, notable for its striking plumage. Adult males are characterized by their black heads, upper bodies, and tails, while females exhibit a similar pattern but with brown replacing the black. Both sexes have rufous flanks, white bellies, and long, dark tails with white edges. The red eyes are a distinctive feature, though birds in the southeast may have white eyes. Juveniles are uniformly brown. This species is not easily confused with others, especially where their ranges do not overlap with the similar Western Spotted Towhee.

Identification Tips

Look for the Eastern Towhee's bold coloration: black or brown depending on sex, with bright rufous sides and a white belly. The tail is dark with white corners. Red eyes (or white in some southeastern individuals) are a key identifier. Juveniles are more subdued with an overall brown appearance.

Habitat

Eastern Towhees favor brushy areas and are often found in habitats with dense shrubbery and thickets. They are also common in disturbed areas such as old fields and along power line right-of-ways.

Distribution

This species is widespread across eastern North America, from southern Canada down through the eastern United States. They are summer residents in the northern part of their range and migrate to the southern United States for winter. A rare vagrant to western Europe, there was a single record in Great Britain in 1966.

Behaviour

Eastern Towhees are ground-dwellers, spending much of their time foraging in the leaf litter with a characteristic double-scratch technique. They show strong territorial behavior during the breeding season but may join mixed-species flocks in winter.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a distinctive "drink your teeeeea," which lasts about one second and starts with a sharp "drink!" followed by a trill "teeeeea." The call, from which the name "towhee" is derived, is a sharp, two-part note that rises in pitch, often described as a "chewink."

Breeding

Eastern Towhees breed in brushy areas, with nests either low in bushes or on the ground under shrubs. They may raise two or three broods per season, with clutch sizes ranging from 2 to 6 eggs. Both parents are involved in feeding the young, which fledge after about 10 to 12 days.

Similar Species

The Western Spotted Towhee is similar in appearance but has white spots on its wings and back. The two species were once considered one but are now recognized as distinct.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, insects, and occasionally small amphibians and reptiles. They forage primarily on the ground but also glean from vegetation.

Conservation Status

The Eastern Towhee is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, populations have experienced declines in some areas, particularly along the Atlantic seaboard and the northern part of their breeding range.