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| Spotted Towhee. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
One of my favorite birds is the Spotted Towhee. Flashy and loud, it is nonetheless not always easy to see because it feeds in the undergrowth rather than in the open. Females are a paler version of the male. This bird above at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary garden was extremely accommodating. He sat on the post for a long time, and kept changing position so that I was able to take pictures of him from almost every angle.
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| Spotted Towhee. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
Spotted Towhees are members of the emberizine family which includes New World sparrows, buntings, juncos, and towhees. The Spotted Towhee used to be called the Rufous-sided Towhee because--as you can see--they do have rufous sides. However, the species was split into Eastern and Spotted Towhees. Not all towhees are in the same genus, and there have been disagreements and changes of name and genus.
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| Spotted Towhee. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
Like the California Towhee, the Spotted Towhee scratches through the undergrowth leaf litter by hopping and scratching simultaneously with both feet to uncover food which includes all kinds of creepy crawlers you would find under such litter in the undergrowth. They eat insects, millepedes and even spiders. They supplement with fruit, seeds, and grain from crops and wild plants of all kinds.
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| Spotted Towhee--note the spots. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
The Spotted Towhee is a western bird. Range extends from Canada south along the Pacific coast into Mexico. The range extends east into Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, parts of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and North and South Dakota.
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| Spotted Towhee from behind. Ready for take off. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
Spotted Towhees live year-round in Orange County. Males can be heard and often seen in spring perched high in a tree singing for a mate. Once they mate they are monogamous. The males are not of the hit-and-run variety. They actually stick around and help. But Towhees have very well-defined gender-related roles. Although the males do stay, bring food, and sometimes collect nesting material, only the female builds the nest and incubates the nest. Once the eggs hatch, the male provides most of the food and the female stays on the nest keeping the nestlings warm. When not actively procuring food and feeding the nestlings, the male guards the nest.
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| Spotted Towhee. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
Spotted Towhees often nest near the ground. The female weaves plant matter including grasses, twigs and animal fur into a nest. On occasion a Spotted Towhee nest can be over 10 feet high, but that is not the norm. They sometimes have more than one brood a year, but that too is not the norm.
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| Spotted Towhee singing. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
You can see Spotted Towhees all over Orange County. Spring is the easiest time--especially in the early spring when the males are singing. You can see them anywhere you find undergrowth. Wildlife areas, parks, and backyards. Listen for their call and watch for this beautiful bird while you are out birding in Orange County.
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| Spotted Towhee. Photographer Karen McQuade. Copyright, all rights reserved. |
OC Birder Girl Links
External Links and Resources
All About Birds: Spotted Towhee
Great site with lots of information about birds.
Audubon Guide to North American Birds--Spotted Towhee
Audubon's online bird guide.
Bird Web from Seattle Audubon
Birds and Blooms
Birds and Blooms magazine pictures of male and female Spotted Towhees.
Birds of North America--Spotted Towhee
The Birds of North America from Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a subscription service that provides detailed information about bird species in North America. If you are really into birding, it is worth it. The introductions to the species can sometimes be previewed for free.
Internet Bird Collections--Spotted Towhee
A great site full of videos, photos, and sounds of birds all over the world.
La Pilitas Nursery--Spotted Towhee
California Native Plant Nursery that devotes part of its website to birds. Located in Escondido and Santa Margarita California.
Macauley Library--Spotted Towhee sounds
The site for bird sounds.
National Geographic--Spotted Towhee
Oklahoma City Audubon--Spotted Towhee
Great site with lots of information about birds.
Audubon Guide to North American Birds--Spotted Towhee
Audubon's online bird guide.
Bird Web from Seattle Audubon
Birds and Blooms
Birds and Blooms magazine pictures of male and female Spotted Towhees.
Birds of North America--Spotted Towhee
The Birds of North America from Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a subscription service that provides detailed information about bird species in North America. If you are really into birding, it is worth it. The introductions to the species can sometimes be previewed for free.
Internet Bird Collections--Spotted Towhee
A great site full of videos, photos, and sounds of birds all over the world.
La Pilitas Nursery--Spotted Towhee
California Native Plant Nursery that devotes part of its website to birds. Located in Escondido and Santa Margarita California.
Macauley Library--Spotted Towhee sounds
The site for bird sounds.
National Geographic--Spotted Towhee
Oklahoma City Audubon--Spotted Towhee
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