Eastern Towhee Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Maryland, April 03, 1997Recorded by Wil Hershberger | Macaulay Library
Song (Red-eyed)
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Maine, July 17, 1997Recorded by Wil Hershberger | Macaulay Library
Calls (Red-eyed)
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West Virginia, April 28, 2001Recorded by Wil Hershberger | Macaulay Library
Flight calls (Red-eyed)
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Maryland, April 14, 1997Recorded by Wil Hershberger | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The classic Eastern Towhee song, given by males, is a loud drink-your-tea! lasting about 1 second. The first note (drink) is sharp and metallic, and the final note (tea) is a musical trill. Sometimes the song will start with more than one drink.

Calls

The most common call is a two-parted, rising chewink, tow-hee, or joree, made by both sexes, often as an alarm call. This call can vary in tone geographically from clear whistles to hoarse or nasal sounds. Towhees make several other calls, including a high-pitched, quiet, lisping call for staying in contact, and a sharp tic when mobbing or fleeing predators.