Bird Of The Week: Eastern Towhee
Kai Goldstein | April 1, 2025
Eastern Towhee || Pipilo erythrophthalmus
What was that?! A sound from the brush perks your ear, begging your attention. A squirrel? A groundhog? A bear?? Not quite. What meets your eyes next is the blood-red gaze of the Eastern Towhee, sharing your curiosity for a fleeting moment. Mystery solved. More bark than bite, these noisy and nonsocial ninjas are notoriously known for nimbly nibbling near the ground. This means you’re more likely to catch them scratching for food in the bushes alone than dancing in the treetops with friends. It’s quite cute watching their characteristic double-leg hop-and-dig extravaganza when they’re searching for sustenance. Eastern Towhees are especially vulnerable to the mischievous misdoings of the Brown-headed Cowbird, which lays its eggs in other birds’ nests, often killing the victim’s eggs in the process. You might not expect this vulnerability from such a daring bird. Listen for the infamous “drink your tea-ee-ee” call that they are so recognizable by.
