The Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythropthalmus) is our latest backyard visitor. This one is a female eating safflower seeds. She somewhat resembles a robin except for the white belly.
The male towhee is quite striking with black where the female is brown, but both have rufous sides. In older bird guides they are listed as Rufous-sided towhees, a name I still prefer.
These year-round Kentucky residents are usually found in brushy areas where they scratch for insects and seeds, and we only occasionally see them in the yard. With snow covering the ground I expect they are looking for other sources of food.
Their distinctive summer song, “drink your teeeeeeeeee” is one of my favorite bird sounds.
Sweet! Send him to my backyard for a visit!
I’ve never seen one of these in my yard, but at least now I’ll know what it is should one pay me a visit. Love the word “rufous”!
On another topic: this morning I finished reading THE SOUND OF A WILD SNAIL EATING–an utterly delightful book. Thanks for recommending …
Patsy, I, too, like the word rufous. Glad you enjoyed “The Sound of a Snail Eating.”
so i presume “rufous” refers to the COLOR?? ie it means red/burnt orange etc?
Yes, Janet, you got it.
Had a male Rufous Towhee in our back yard this afternoon. Mount Forest Ontario. Beautiful!
Glad for you. Looks like you are at the northern edge of its range and I’m guessing it somewhat uncommon there? They are striking birds and always a treat when we see them in the backyard.