Eastern Towhee
Eastern Towhee Information
Length: 7 - 8.5"
Habitat: Brushy woodland edges, open woodlands with shrubby understory, brushy clearings such as overgrown fields and pastures, thickets, shrubby parks.
Diet: Insects such as caterpillars, ants, and beetles; spiders, snails, weed seeds, grass seeds, acorns, small fruits and berries.
Song and calls of the Eastern Towhee
Eastern Towhee Nest with EggsAdditional Information
Eastern TowheeTaxonomy, description, distribution, behavior, breeding, habitat, food habits and conservation status. Includes photos and range map. (From Wikipedia)
Female Eastern Towhee
By Ken Thomas
Eastern Towhee
Identification Tips
- Conical bill
- Red eye (white in southeastern birds)
- Rusty sides
- White belly
- Buffy undertail coverts
- White primary bases and tertial edges
- Long tail with white outer tail feathers
- Male has black head, back, wings and tail- brown in female
- Juvenile (Summer) heavily streaked, brown above and buffy below
- Frequently feeds on the ground where it noisily scratches for food
- Formerly conspecific with Spotted Towhee
(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Range in New England
The Eastern Towhee breeds throughout the region, with the exception of northern Maine. During breeding season, it is found in greater abundance in the southern New England states than in the northern ones.
In New England, this bird
is found during the winter in Connecticut, Rhode Island, parts of Massachusetts, and along the coasts of New Hampshire and Maine. See the eBird maps below for more details.
Range Map from eBird
Eastern Towhee Range Map
Abundance Map from eBird
Eastern Towhee Abundance Map
Christmas Bird Count Map
Historical CBC Map from USGS