Eastern Towhee

About the Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhee is a striking ground-dwelling sparrow with bold black, white, and rusty-orange coloring and bright red eyes. Often heard before it is seen, this bird prefers brushy edges, thickets, and woodland understory. It spends much of its time scratching energetically through leaf litter in search of food.

Fun Facts

• The Drink-Your-Tea Song: Its cheerful song is often described as sounding like drink-your-tea!
• Double-Scratch Move: Eastern Towhees hop forward and then kick both feet backward at the same time to uncover insects and seeds.
• Hidden in the Brush: They prefer dense shrubs and thickets, making them easier to hear than to see.
• Bright Red Eyes: In the eastern part of their range, most towhees have vivid red eyes, which really stand out against their dark head.