Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhee is a large sparrow relative of brushy habitats across the eastern United States, known for its bold three-color pattern and its habit of noisily kicking through leaf litter while foraging. Its feathers show a striking contrast between a dark hood and back (black in males, brown in females), rufous-orange flanks, and a clean white belly, along with white patches visible in the wings and tail during flight.

Size and Shape

Feathers are moderately large and full for a sparrow relative, with a fairly long, rounded tail.

Color and Pattern

• Head, back, and breast feathers: solid black in males, warm brown in females, unbarred
• Flank feathers: bright rufous-orange
• Belly feathers: clean white
• Outer tail feathers: white-tipped, forming flashing white corners in flight
• Wing feathers may show small white patches near the base

Distinguishing from Similar Species

The combination of a solid dark hood, rufous flanks, and white belly is shared closely with the Spotted Towhee, but Eastern Towhee upperpart and wing feathers lack the bold white spotting present on Spotted Towhee's back and wing coverts, appearing instead largely plain black or brown.

Adult males show a solid black hood, back, and tail with rufous flanks and a white belly; adult females show the same pattern with warm brown replacing the black. Juveniles are streaky brown overall, quite different from adults, before their first molt. Adults undergo a complete molt after breeding in late summer.

Eastern Towhees are found across the eastern United States in dense brushy thickets, shrubby forest edges, overgrown fields, and understory tangles. Northern populations migrate short distances south for winter, while southern populations are largely resident year-round.

This species forages on the ground, using a distinctive double-scratch technique with both feet to kick aside leaf litter in search of insects and seeds. It builds a cup nest low in dense shrubs or on the ground, well hidden from view. Its song is often rendered as "drink your tea," and its call is a sharp, rising "chewink," which gives the bird one of its common alternate names. Eastern Towhees are usually more often heard scratching in leaf litter than seen, given their preference for dense cover.