Birds diurnal

Eastern Towhee

Pipilo erythrophthalmus

A striking bird of the brush, the Eastern Towhee is more often heard than seen. With its bold tricolor pattern and unique 'double-scratch' foraging dance, this large sparrow adds a splash of rufous-red and a cheerful 'drink-your-tea' song to any backyard thicket.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 17–23 cm (6.7–9.1 in); Wingspan: 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in); Weight: 32–52 g (1.1–1.8 oz)

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Colors

Males have jet-black upperparts, heads, and tails, with striking rufous (rusty-orange) sides and a white belly. Females follow the same pattern but are warm chocolate-brown where the males are black.

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Key Features

Bold rufous-orange patches on the flanks
Long, rounded tail with white outer feathers visible in flight
Thick, conical black beak
Bright red eyes (white in some southern populations)

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM – Sunset

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Season Year-round in the Southern US; March to October in Northern regions.

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Diet Primarily an omnivore that forages on the ground for beetles, spiders, snails, and caterpillars, as well as various seeds, fruits, and berries.

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Habitat Brushy fields, forest edges, overgrown backyards, and thickets with plenty of leaf litter for scratching.

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Behavior

Eastern Towhees are the "secret agents" of the sparrow world. While they possess bold, contrasting colors, they prefer to spend their time deep within dense brush, tangled thickets, or undergrowth. You are likely to hear them before you see them; they are famous for their loud, rhythmic scratching in the leaf litter. Using a unique "double-scratch" technique, they hop forward and then kick both feet backward simultaneously to uncover hidden insects and seeds.

Socially, they are somewhat solitary or found in pairs during the breeding season. They aren't as bold as Robins or Cardinals and will often dart back into cover if they feel exposed. However, they are highly vocal. Their primary call sounds like a sharp "chewink" or "towhee," and their melodic song is often interpreted as "drink-your-tea!" which males deliver from a slightly elevated perch before returning to the shadows of the forest floor.

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Camera Tips

Because Eastern Towhees are dedicated ground-dwellers, camera height is the most critical factor for success. Position your camera no more than 6 to 12 inches off the ground, ideally mounted on a small stake or a low-profile brick. Aim the lens toward an open patch of leaf litter near the edge of a dense hedge, woodpile, or brushy garden bed. This "edge" habitat provides the security they need to venture into the camera's field of view; avoid pointing the camera into wide-open lawn areas, as towhees rarely stray far from cover.

To lure them into frame, skip the hanging feeders and create a ground-level feeding station. Scatter a mix of black oil sunflower seeds, white proso millet, and cracked corn directly on the ground or on a low platform feeder. If you have a brush pile, clearing a small 2-foot circle in front of it and "baiting" it with seeds is an almost guaranteed way to capture their unique scratching behavior. Adding a shallow ground-level birdbath nearby can also be a major draw, especially during the heat of mid-summer when they look for a place to cool off.

For camera settings, use a high-speed trigger or a fast burst mode if available. The towhee’s "double-scratch" move is incredibly fast, and a slow camera might only capture a blur of feathers or a cloud of flying leaves. If your camera supports video, 15-second clips are ideal for capturing their foraging dance and their vocalizations. In the spring, try placing your camera slightly higher (3-4 feet) if you notice a male repeatedly singing from a specific low branch, as they are creatures of habit and will return to the same "song post" daily to defend their territory.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Eastern Towhee.

Spotted Towhee

Nearly identical in shape and color, but features extensive white spotting on the back and wings; found primarily in the Western US.

Dark-eyed Junco

Much smaller with a gray or black hood, but shares the white outer tail feathers and ground-foraging habits.

American Robin

Similar in size and has an orange breast, but lacks the towhee's black hood, white belly, and conical sparrow beak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eastern Towhees are most active during the early morning hours, from dawn until about 10:00 AM, and again in the late afternoon. While they can be seen throughout the day, these 'golden hours' are when they are most likely to be vocal and foraging in the open.

The best way to attract them is to provide ground-level cover like brush piles or dense shrubbery. Scatter sunflower seeds or millet on the ground near the edge of these thickets, as they rarely visit hanging feeders.

Their diet consists of insects like beetles and grasshoppers, as well as spiders and snails. They also eat a significant amount of plant matter, including seeds, wild berries, and small fruits found in the leaf litter.

Yes, they are common in suburbs that maintain natural landscaping. They thrive in yards with 'messy' corners, overgrown hedges, and plenty of leaf mulch rather than perfectly manicured, open lawns.

The primary difference is the plumage on the back and wings. Eastern Towhees have solid black (or brown for females) backs, while Spotted Towhees have distinct white spotting on their wings and backs. Their ranges also rarely overlap, with the Eastern species found east of the Great Plains.

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