Eastern Towhee Identification

Adult male

Large sparrow with thick bill and long tail. Male has black throat, head, and upperparts. Sides are rufous; belly is white. Tail corners are white and especially visible in flight.

Female/immature

Females have brown head, throat, and back; white belly; rufous sides. In most of range, eye is dark.

Adult male

Adult male (White-eyed)

Individuals in Florida and parts of Alabama through North Carolina have pale eyes instead of dark or reddish eyes.

Juvenile

Large sparrow with long tail. Juveniles are brownish and heavily streaked from hatching into their first fall.

Adult male

Female/immature

Large, long-tailed sparrow typically found on the ground. Females have brown head, throat, and back; white belly; rufous sides.

Adult male

Males sing loud, short songs, often transcribed as Drink your tea, but varying considerably.

Adult female

Adult male

Note white flashes in tail corners and white check mark in folded wing. In most of range, eye is dark or reddish.

Juvenile

This individual has the streaked underparts of a juvenile but is developing the black upperparts of male plumage.

Immature

Adult male

"Red-eyed" Eastern Towhees have extensive white tips to the outer tail feathers.

Adult male

Occurs in dense shrubby habitats and forest edges. Usually forages on the ground by scratching in thick leaf litter.