Bird · GBIF taxon 2491205
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmusThe Eastern Towhee is a large sparrow with a dark head and back, rusty flanks, and white belly. It searches dense ground cover with an energetic two-footed backward scratch that exposes seeds and invertebrates beneath leaf litter.
brushland sparrowleaf-litter foragerrusty flanks
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- beetles
- caterpillars
- spiders
Predators
- Cooper's hawks
- rat snakes
- domestic cats
ThreatsLoss of dense understory, free-roaming cats, window collisions, pesticide exposure, and nest parasitism
HabitatsShrubland, forest edge, oak woodland, overgrown fields, thickets, and coastal scrub
Life spanOften two to six years, with some wild birds living beyond ten years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPasserellidae
- SpeciesPipilo erythrophthalmus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Watch from paths and keep pets away from low nesting and feeding cover.
Responsible observation
- Sound: Listen for a sharp call followed by a musical drink-your-tea song.
- Behavior: Watch for vigorous backward scratching in dry leaf litter.
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