Spotted Towhee look-alikes
Pipilo maculatus
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Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Spotted Towhee. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Key differences
The Eastern Towhee lacks the white spotting on the back and wings that is characteristic of the Spotted Towhee. Its back is solid black (male) or brown (female). Their ranges overlap in a narrow band in the Great Plains, where hybrids can occur.
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
Key differences
The California Towhee is a plainer, uniformly brownish-gray bird with a rusty undertail coverts and a faint streaking on the throat. It lacks the bold black/brown, white spots, and rufous flanks of the Spotted Towhee. Its eyes are typically dark, not red.
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
Key differences
Similar to the California Towhee in its plain appearance, the Canyon Towhee is also uniformly brownish-gray with a rusty undertail. It lacks the distinct spotting and rufous flanks of the Spotted Towhee. Its range is generally more inland and southerly than the Spotted Towhee.
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