Eastern towhee Pipilo erythophthalmus

Identification Tips:

• Conical bill
• Red eye (white in southeastern birds)
• Rusty sides
• White belly
• Buffy undertail coverts
• White primary bases and tertial edges
• Long tail with white outer tail feathers
• Male has black head, back, wings and tail-brown in female
• Juvenile (Summer) heavily streaked, brown above and buffy below
• Frequently feeds on the ground where it noisily scratches for food
• Formerly conspecific with Spotted Towhee

Similar species:

The Eastern Towhee is similar to the Spotted Towhee but lacks wing bars and white spots on the back.