Spotted Towhee Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSpotted Towhee
Adult male
Large sparrow with a thick bill and a long tail. Males have a black head, throat, and upperparts, with a white belly and rufous sides. The back and wings are spotted white.
© Mason Maron / Macaulay LibraryWashington, March 23, 2020Female/immature
Large, long-tailed sparrow. Females along the Pacific Coast are dull blackish on the head, throat, and upperparts, with white spots on the wings and back.
© Alice Domalik / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 04, 2017Adult (Olive-backed)
Some populations in Mexico have olive-green on the back.
© Miguel Aguilar @birdnomad / Macaulay LibraryCiudad de México, June 01, 2020Juvenile
Large sparrow with thick bill. Juveniles are heavily streaked and brownish.
© Jim Merritt / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 03, 2020Adult male
Large, long-tailed sparrow of brushy areas, often found on or near the ground. Note prominent white flashes in the tail in flight.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 31, 2020Female/immature
Large, long-tailed sparrow. Females along the Pacific Coast are dull blackish on the head, throat, and upperparts, with white spots on the wings and back.
© Terry Karlin / Macaulay LibraryOregon, December 11, 2020Adult male
Lives in dense shrubby habitats. Scratches in leaf litter to forage, but males often perch in the open to call or sing.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 24, 2017Similar SpeciesEastern Towhee
Adult male
Male Eastern Towhees are mostly solid black above, without the prominent white wing spots on Spotted Towhee. The two species have very little range overlap.
© Tom Murray / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 20, 2017Similar SpeciesEastern Towhee
Female/immature
Eastern and Spotted Towhees look similar, but their ranges don't overlap much. Female Eastern Towhees are mostly solid brown above, without the prominent white wing spots on Spotted Towhee.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 17, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.