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Large sparrow,
white-spotted black back, black rump. Black breast, white belly, rufous
sides. Head is black and eyes are red. Wings are black with white spots.
Tail is long and black with white corners. Short, bounding flights,
alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
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SPOTTED
TOWHEE
Pipilo maculatus
PASSERIFORMES
Sparrows (Emberizidae)
Range
and Habitat
Breeds from British Columbia south to California and the southwest,
and east to central Dakotas and western Texas. Spends winters from British
Columbia, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska south to Baja California
and east to Oklahoma and south-central Texas. Preferred habitats include
forest edges, thickets, woodlands, gardens, and shrubby park areas.
SOUND:
"cheweeeeee", "meewwww"
When disturbed, a nesting female Spotted Towhee may run away like a
mouse rather than fly. They occasionally sun themselves, lying down
on the grass with feathers spread.
They often bathe in dew or fog drip on vegetation.
A group of towhees are collectively known as a "tangle" and
a "teapot" of towhees.
The Spotted Towhee is a large sparrow that prefers breeding habitats
which include thickets and shrublands throughout western North America.
This species has been known to interbreed with the Collared Towhee in
areas of southwestern Mexico where the ranges of the two species overlap.
During winter months, northwestern populations will migrate east to
the central plains of the United States and northwestern and central
Great Plains. Nests are built on the ground or in low bushes. Diets
consist of insects, acorns, seeds and berries found by foraging on the
ground.
The conservation status of this species is Least Concern.
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