Eastern TowheeEastern Towhee -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 7.5 inches | Wingspan: 10.5 inches | Seasonality: Summer/Migrant |
| ID Keys: Black upperparts and hood, rufous sides, white underparts, red eye. Note lack of white spots that are seen on the very similar Spotted Towhee. | ||
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
The Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee were formerly considered separate races of the same species, the Rufous-Sided Towhee (a name which is no longer used). The two are very similar, but differ in range, as the Spotted Towhee is mostly a western U.S. bird while the Eastern Towhee is an eastern U.S. bird. The Eastern Towhee also lacks the Spotted Towhee's white spots on its back and wings. The two species may interbreed where their ranges overlap.
Habitat: Prefers brush and thickets, usually as the understory to a forest/woodland.
Diet: Insects, fruits and berries, seeds, nuts, occasionally small reptiles, amphibians, and snakes.
Nesting: June and July
Breeding map: Breeding bird survey map not available, as the Eastern Towhee was only recently split from the former Rufous-Sided Towhee. That breeding map primarily shows the other member of the split, the Spotted Towhee.
Song: Eastern Towhee Song, also Eastern Towhee Call
Migrations: Northern populations (including those in South Dakota) migrate south in the fall.
Similar Species: Spotted Towhee
Feeders: Will attend for a suet/seed mixture.
Status: Has declined in the northeastern U.S.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Eastern Towhee
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Eastern Towhee"
3) eNature.com: Eastern Towhee
Photo Information: May 13th, 2001 -- Newton Hills State Park -- Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Eastern Towhee photos.
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| South Dakota Status: Uncommon migrant in the eastern half of the state. Uncommon summer breeder in the southeastern corner of the state. |
| Additional Eastern Towhee Photos | ||
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| Eastern Towhee 1 | Eastern Towhee 2 | Eastern Towhee 3 |
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| Eastern Towhee 5 | ||
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Range Map Reference: NatureServe
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08
