Spotted Towhee

22 cm (7-9") Common. Across western United States, southwestern Canada. Wood margins, thickets, dry shrubby vegetation.  Scratches noisily on the ground in dry leaves.

Male: black head and upperparts contrast with rufous sides and white belly. Heavily spotted above. Similar male Eastern Towhee is not as spotted above.

Female: grayish hood and heavily spotted grayish back and wings, contrasting rufous sides and white belly. Similar Eastern Towhee is more brownish and not heavily spotted above.

Until recently lumped in with Eastern Towhee and called Rufous-sided Towhee.

Song: high trill. call to-wheee?

Videos

Images

Credit: Jason Crotty

Credit: Caleb Putnam

Credit: Rick Leche

Credit: Alexandra MacKenzie

Distribution Maps

Spotted Towhee distribution map