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eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

  • Length: 7.25? inches

  • 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

Similar species:

The eastern towhee is similar to the spotted towhee but lacks wing
bars and white spots on the back.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Successional-scrub
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-5
Length of Incubation: 12-13? days
Days to Fledge: 10-12
Number of Broods: 2, occasionally 3 in south
Diet: Mostly nuts, seeds fruit; lesser quantities of insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
C
      Su - Summer: June, July, August C
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

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