Eastern Towhee

(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

Minnesota

not listed

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
Eastern Towhee
Photo by Kirk Nelson
 
Description

 

 

Size

7 to 8½ in length

10½ wingspan

 

Voice

The song is a high note quickly followed by a low note, then a high trill.

 

The call is a single, upturned note lasting just one second, repeated in 4 to 6 seconds.

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Woodland edges and shrubby fields

Ecology

Migration

 

 

Nesting

 

 

Food

 

Distribution

Occurrence

Uncommon migrant and breeder southeat, central, north-central, and northwest; rare to casual elsewhere

 

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (birds)

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)

Family

Passerellidae (New World sparrows)

Genus

Pipilo (typical towhees)

   

Subordinate Taxa

Alabama Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus canaster)

Red-eyed Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus)

Riley’s Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus rileyi)

White-eyed Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus alleni)

   

Family
New World sparrows were traditionally combined with buntings into the family Emberizidae. Recent phylogenetic analysis (Barker et al. 2013) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis (Klicka et al. 2014) found that the Old World buntings should be separated as a sister to New World sparrows. New World sparrows have been separated into a new family, Passerellidae.

   

Synonyms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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Gregory Gilman

Chawow ! Elusive, tough shot. On alert for more...

Eastern Towhee    

Kirk Nelson

The song is unmistakable – “drink your tea-e-e-e”

Eastern Towhee   Eastern Towhee
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
   

 

   

 

 

Camera

 

Slideshows

Eastern Towhee
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee
JMC Nature Photos

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee
jt893x

Eastern Towhee

 

slideshow

Visitor Videos
 

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Kirk Nelson

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Aug 12, 2015

Other Videos

Male Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Bob C

Eastern Towhee Song - Pennsylvania
Clive Bramham

Eastern Towhee Singing (Nature Sounds) Michigan - June 22, 2011 - Open Window Videos
Connie Myres

Rufous-sided Towhee at Rockefeller State Park Preserve
VideoBirder

Eastern Towhee
The Music of Nature

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 

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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Gregory Gilman
10/4/2020

Location: Rochester, MN

Chawow !

Elusive, tough shot.

On alert for more...

Eastern Towhee

Mary Foster
6/25/2020

Location: Arden Hills, MN.

We've had, what I think are, a pair of Towhees in our yard in Arden Hills, MN.

Appear to be all brown with a flat, fanned shaped tail. Never have seen them before.

Kirk Nelson
7/8/2018

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

The song is unmistakable – “drink your tea-e-e-e”

Eastern Towhee

Brent Glowa
5/12/2018

Location: Mantorville, MN

first time I have seen one.

Mary
6/24/2017

Location: 5 miles south west of Marine on St. Croix

the Towhees have been here for about 2 weeks

MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

Binoculars

 

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