Spotted Towhee

About

The Spotted Towhee is a large, striking sparrow of western North America, known for its distinctive black (male) or brown (female) upperparts heavily spotted with white, rufous flanks, and white belly. It is primarily a ground-foraging bird, often heard rustling through leaf litter in dense undergrowth.

Size & lifespan

Length

17-21 cm (6.7-8.3 in)

Wingspan

28-33 cm (11-13 in)

Weight

32-49 g (1.1-1.7 oz)

Lifespan

Up to 10 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore (primarily insects and seeds)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Males have a black head, throat, back, and tail, heavily spotted with white on the back and wings. The flanks are a rich rufous, and the belly is white. Females are similar but have brown where the male is black. Both sexes have bright red eyes and a white patch at the base of the primaries, visible in flight.

Beak shape

Conical, stout, and dark gray to black.

Eye color

Bright red (adults), duller in juveniles.

Leg color

Dark gray to black.

Distinguishing features

Bright red eyes, heavily spotted back and wings (especially males), rufous flanks, and a characteristic 'tow-hee' call. The white wing patch is a key field mark.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are duller overall, with streaky brown plumage on the head and back, and duller rufous flanks. Their eyes are typically duller, often brownish, before turning red.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Breeding and non-breeding plumages are essentially the same, though plumage may appear slightly worn by late summer.

Sexual dimorphism

Pronounced. Males have black upperparts, head, and throat, while females have brown in these areas. Otherwise, plumage patterns are similar.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plumage (Males)

   Look for the striking black head, throat, and back, heavily marked with bright white spots on the back and wings. The flanks will be a rich rufous, contrasting with a white belly.

2. 2

   Plumage (Females)

   Similar pattern to males, but the black areas are replaced with warm brown. Still look for the white spots on the back and wings, rufous flanks, and white belly.

3. 3

   Eyes

   Adults have distinctive, bright red eyes, which are a key field mark. Juveniles have duller, brownish eyes.

4. 4

   White Wing Patch

   A small but noticeable white patch at the base of the primary feathers is visible on both sexes, especially in flight.

5. 5

   Behavior

   Listen for the rustling in leaf litter as it forages with its characteristic 'double-scratch' method. They often stay hidden in dense undergrowth.

6. 6

   Vocalizations

   Learn its distinctive 'chewink' or 'tow-hee' call and its buzzy trilling song. These are often heard before the bird is seen.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Forest edges, woodlands, chaparral, riparian thickets, suburban gardens, and brushy areas.

Geographic range

Western North America, from southern British Columbia and Alberta south through the western United States to Baja California and central Mexico. Eastward to the Great Plains in some areas.

Elevation range

Sea level up to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), depending on latitude and local habitat availability.

Preferred environments

Dense undergrowth, thickets, and brushy areas, often near forest edges or open woodlands. They prefer areas with abundant leaf litter for foraging.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon.

Feeding habits

Primarily ground foragers. They use a distinctive 'double-scratch' method, kicking both feet backward simultaneously to uncover insects and seeds in leaf litter. They also glean insects from foliage and eat berries.

Social behavior

Generally solitary or found in pairs, especially during the breeding season. They may form small, loose flocks in winter, sometimes associating with other sparrow species.

Flight pattern

Short, low, and somewhat undulating flights between patches of dense cover. They are not strong, sustained fliers.

Migration pattern

Northern populations are migratory, moving south for the winter. Southern and coastal populations are largely resident year-round. Migrants typically move short to medium distances.

Territoriality

Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, defending their nesting areas with songs and aggressive displays.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Typically April to August, with peak activity in May and June.

Nesting habits

Nests are usually built on or near the ground, well-concealed in dense shrubs, thickets, or under tangled vegetation. The nest is a bulky cup made of leaves, twigs, bark strips, and grass, lined with finer materials.

Clutch size

2-6 eggs, commonly 3-5.

Egg description

2-6 eggs, typically 3-5. Eggs are whitish, pale gray, or greenish-white, often speckled or spotted with reddish-brown, purplish-gray, or black, particularly at the larger end.

Incubation period

12-14 days, primarily by the female.

Fledging period

10-12 days after hatching, young leave the nest but are still fed by parents for several weeks.

Parental care

Both parents feed the nestlings and fledglings, though the female does most of the incubation. Males often feed the fledglings while the female starts a second clutch.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for the 'chewink' call. This distinctive call is often the first indication of a Spotted Towhee's presence, as they are often hidden in dense vegetation.
2. Watch for movement in leaf litter. Their foraging behavior involves vigorously scratching through leaves on the ground. Look for rustling sounds and sudden movements in dense undergrowth.
3. Be patient near dense cover. Spotted Towhees are shy and prefer to stay concealed. Find a good vantage point near a thicket and wait quietly; they may eventually emerge.
4. Look for red eyes. If you get a glimpse of a bird in dense cover, the bright red eyes of an adult Spotted Towhee are a strong identifying feature.

Similar species

Quick facts

Diet:

Insects, seeds, berries

Habitat:

Dense undergrowth, forest edges, chaparral

Distinguishing Feature:

Red eyes, white-spotted back/wings, rufous flanks

Call:

'Chewink' or 'tow-hee'

Foraging Method:

Double-scratching in leaf litter

Fun facts

• The Spotted Towhee was formerly considered conspecific with the Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) and together they were known as the Rufous-sided Towhee. They were split into two distinct species in 1995 based on genetic and vocal differences.
• Their distinctive 'double-scratch' foraging technique is highly efficient for uncovering hidden insects and seeds in dense leaf litter.
• Despite their often secretive nature, male Spotted Towhees will sing from exposed perches to defend their territory during the breeding season.
• The bright red eyes of adult Spotted Towhees are a striking feature and help distinguish them from other towhee species in their range.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Passerellidae

Genus

Pipilo

Species

Pipilo maculatus

Explore the Spotted Towhee