Spotted Towhee

The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) is a large, striking sparrow native to western North America. Easily distinguished by its bold colors and active ground-foraging habits, this bird is a delight for both beginner and experienced birdwatchers. They have a stout build, a thick seed-cracking bill, and a notably long tail. Though they spend much of their time skulking in dense undergrowth, their distinctive calls and noisy rustling in the leaf litter often give away their presence.

Identifying a Spotted Towhee is straightforward thanks to its bold, contrasting plumage patterns.

Key Field Marks

• Male: Features a jet-black head, throat, back, and tail. The wings and back are heavily patterned with crisp white spots, transitioning to warm rufous-orange flanks and a clean white belly.
• Female: Shares the same pattern as the male, but with a dusty, dark charcoal-brown replacing the jet-black hood and back.
• Eyes: Both sexes boast striking, ruby-red eyes, though young juveniles have duller brownish-yellow eyes.
• Tail: Long and dark, featuring neat white corners that are highly visible when the bird is in flight or flaring its tail.

Similar Species

• Eastern Towhee: Very similar in shape and rufous-sided pattern, but completely lacks the extensive white spotting on the wings and back. Their ranges overlap and hybridize occasionally along the Great Plains.

Spotted Towhees thrive in dense, brushy habitats. They are commonly found in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, secondary-growth forest edges, brushy fields, canyon bottoms, and overgrown suburban gardens.

Range and Migration

Their range spans across the western half of North America, from southern Western Canada through the Western United States and deep into Mexico. Populations along the Pacific Coast and in the southwest are year-round residents, whereas northern interior populations migrate south and to lower elevations during the winter months.

Spotted Towhees are ground-dwelling birds that exhibit fascinating, highly active behaviors.

Foraging and Movement

To find food, they employ a unique 'double-scratch' foraging technique: they hop forward and then quickly leap backward, using both feet simultaneously to kick away leaf litter to expose hidden insects, seeds, and fallen berries.

Vocalizations

• Call: A highly distinctive, buzzy, ascending whine or mewing call, often transcribed as 'shwee' or 'reeee'.
• Song: A short, buzzy song that typically consists of one or two introductory chips followed by a fast, insect-like trill. It is faster and buzzier than the 'drink-your-tea' song of the Eastern Towhee.

Nesting

Nests are built almost exclusively on the ground or very low in dense shrubs, well-hidden under vegetation. The female constructs a sturdy cup woven from leaves, bark strips, and grass, lining it with finer materials. They lay 3 to 5 pale, speckled eggs.