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I had my dog at the vet yesterday. In the yard behind the examination room there were 2 bird feeders. There was a lovely variety of birds on the feeder. I saw a bird that looked like a robin. But it had white on it's lower chest. The male was black on top and the female was light brown.
I came home and looked the bird up...I found out that it was a Eastern(Rufous sided) Towhee.
Eastern Towhees are victims of Cowbirds: Cowbirds often parasitize towhees by laying eggs in their nests so the towhees will raise the cowbird young. This diminishes the Towhee population.
Towhees will come to feeders for Black Oil sunflower and millet.
Plants and habitat that attracts Eastern Towhees; open brushy fields, thickets, road side edges, parks, ornamental gardens..
Here is a link to a site that has pictures and more information.
posted
Good work, Oui! You are absolutely correct! Very thorough and accurate. The Eastern Towhee was one of the first birds I learned to identify when I started birding 18 years ago. We called them Rufous-Sided Towhees then. In the last five years the official nomenclature of a lot of US birds has changed. The song of the Eastern Towhee is, "Drink-Your-Tea" with the word, "Tea" drawn out and quavering. Their call is a loudddd, clear, shrill, "SHRIKE"
bbbbbbbbb A bird in the hand......can sometimes be a mess.
From: Nashville, TN | Registered: May 2005
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Oui
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I didn't get to hear the Towhees call...<<dang>
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I love the Rufous-sided Towhees , and eagerly await their return in the spring . I usually hear them before seeing them ...and say : "The Towhees are back ! " I enjoy watching them scratching vigorously in the leaves under the big spreading juniper out front .
bbbbbbbbb
From: Arkansas | Registered: Jan 2006
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