Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Eastern Towhee

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

I am featuring the Eastern Towhee for this week's wild bird. I have been seeing them in different places during the last week. The Eastern Towhee is in the Sparrow family.
 


I think the Towhee is a beautiful bird with its rufous sides, black head and white chest. It has a long dark tail with white edges.  The Towhee also has a dark stout bill.  In a Maryland summer they can be found in shrubby areas with berries.


I wish the branches were not in the way, it would have been a good shot..


The female above is a pretty has the brown back with rufous sides and the white chest and belly. They can also be found on the ground scratching at the leaves and foraging.  

Thanks for stopping by my post and for all the nice comments.

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.  Thanks to our host Michelle our host Stewart.  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!

57 comments:

Carole M. said...

I think he is a delightful sparrow cousin...and she too

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Eileen;
Wow, Towhee is such a beautiful bird ♡♡♡ While reading your explanation about its appearance, I could guess the meaning of the color 'rufous'; happy got it right p;)
ps. I hope my latest post is proper for linking to Nature Note... Haha, I had a bit hard time finding linking place.

Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi Eileen. Yes this is a beautiful bird especially the male, so handsome.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

These are among my favorites, Eileen! I talk to them as they take cover in the thick brush around our property...:)JP

Minoru Saito said...

H,Eileen. Nice captures. This kind of birds are not live in our country. I enjoyed your post very much. Thanks for sharing.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

beautiful little bird.

Jo said...

The eastern Towee certainly is beautiful. I love the female too; normally they're drab but this Towee is just as pretty as her mate. I hope you're having a great day. Please hug Goldie Girl for me. I'm off on leave at the end of the week, and don't always remember these things when in transit! Greetings Jo

Stewart M said...

Nice looking bird - I have some shots of this species stored away for an emergency WBW!

The wombat is a hole living herbivore - it's not normally a beach goer, but is normally found in grassy areas.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Montanagirl said...

They are both beautiful - but the male's colors really pop! We see the Spotted Towhee here.

TexWisGirl said...

such rich colors! i'd love to see one.

Crafty Green Poet said...

what a handsome bird! Such beautiful colours

Elizabeth Edwards said...

not sure i have ever seen a Towhee? neat bird. love all those colors. what a cool sighting. ( :

Linda W. said...

What a pretty little bird. Nice shots!

Irma said...

Great photos Eileen.
All pictures are very well photographed, my compliments.
The second picture is my favorite.
Greetings Irma

Karen said...

These are handsome birds Eileen. I have a visiting male in the yard, but I haven't seen the female. Great shots!

Suzan said...

Ohhh my gosh Eileen!!
That Black headed Towhee!!
Last week - I kept hearing pecking on the kitchen window. It's from the ceiling to the floor window. Sounded like someone was throwing a pebble at the window. I located the sound and it was this black headed bird jumping up and pecking the glass window. I hit the window to make him stop - for fear that he would break his neck. My husband put the screen up in the window and he quit. That afternoon, I heard the same sound coming from my bedroom. The same black headed bird was on the window seal of our large picture window over the bath tub. He was pecking at the corner of the glass. I make BOO gesters with my hands and he would quit - then start up again 15 minutes later. He woke us up at 7am pecking at the window. THEN-- after we scared him enough---- he started pecking at our front door. It's a large metal door with clear stain glass inserts. He would jump up 12" from the stoop and peck the door. I let Augie stare out at him and bark. Haven't seen or heard from him again --- but he was really weird!! Bet he had a terrible head ache by the end of the weekend!!

Ela said...

Beautiful photos of birds !
Greetings

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I had never seen a female Towhee before... Thanks for sharing.

I love Towhees (Love their song).. I never see them here --but they 'may' be around and I have just missed them.

Hugs,
Betsy

DIMI said...

Hello Eileen!What a lovely bird!And yes,it looks like a sparrow!Great captures!Wish you a happy week!Hugs!
Dimi...

Brightcetera said...

I've been seeing or hearing them in all the places I've visited in the past 3 weeks. They are one of my favourite spring migrants - such beauties and their song is so endearing.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

These are such sweet little birds! We have Towhee's too, here in WA ST. very similar. I love to watch them scratch in the leaves. Lovely photos. xo Karen

mick said...

Such beautiful and colorful birds - especially the male. Great photos.

Our photos said...

Nice photos !

George said...

We haven't seen this beautiful bird around here. I wish it would come to visit the Plateau of Tennessee.

HansHB said...

Wonderful to see!

Elaine said...

Beautiful bird! I always enjoying seeing birds on your blog that we don't get here.

Karen said...

These are pretty birds Eileen, great shots of them too. Have a great week.

DeniseinVA said...

Another lovely little bird Eileen. You share some beauties with us. Always a treat :)

Carver said...

I love towhees. You got some good shots of them.

Brian King said...

Gorgeous shots! I don't see these guys often.

Gail Dixon said...

Despite the branches, they're still GREAT shots. Much better than the ones I took of this beauty. Be proud of these. Great focus and colors and you got the catchlight in his eye.

thewovenspoke said...

Great shots Eileen, they are kind of hard to get good shots of in my experience.

Stephanie said...

Pretty bird and wonderful shots of him.

Naquillity said...

what a beautiful bird the Towhee is... so glad you were able to make a trip to Shenandoah National Park... so many wonderful photos from your visit. hope all is well. have a great night~

Noushka said...

Nevermind the branches, it is a stunning little bird and your shots are very good!
I had a look at your deers too, they are gorgeous.
What a lovely place, Shenandoah National park.
Keep well Eileen!

Unknown said...

Very pretty birds! The colours are lovely. Enjoy your week!

Bob Bushell said...

Oh yes, the Eastern Towhee is so beautiful, well shots Eileen.

EG CameraGirl said...

Very cool, Eileen!

Black Jack's Carol said...

Those darn branches :) But, lovely captures of a very pretty bird!

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, I do not believe I have ever seen a female Eastern Towhee. Glad you showed one. Have a tremendously nice day!

Small City Scenes said...

I just love the busy towhees. We have the western or spotted towhee here. Similar but a tad different.

NatureFootstep said...

a nice couple, thanks for sharing. Branches can´t be avoided. :(

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Hi Eileen!!!... Nice bird.. Regards..

Ida said...

I've never seen a Towhee before so this was a fun post for me. I like it's coloring and I think you got some nice shots of it.

Rohrerbot said...

What a beautiful bird! I would love to see the Eastern Towhee. I'm hoping this summer I'll get to find one. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Never seen them before. Very pretty!

Pat said...

A beautiful bird. I have yet to see one.

maryaustria said...

Gorgeous shots!

Debbie said...

this is such a gorgeous bird. i love the rich, deep color!!

the images are beautiful, soon there will be many leaves on theses trees and less of a chance to get any picture ;)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I love my towhees in Oregon (I guess they are western towhees?) ....didn't realize they were of the sparrow family. I always learn something here.

Jenn Jilks said...

You're so funny. It IS a great shot with branches! Lovely birds.
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada

Arija said...

Such a pretty bird compared to the common house sparrow which is all we get here.

katerchen said...

diese Art ist wunderschön

DABKE für die schönen Bilder

LG vom katerchen

Rambling Woods said...

Oh sweet bird...love the colors and have never seen one.. Thank you for linking into Nature Notes Eileen...Michelle

Helma said...

What a wonderful bird is Eileen. I read that he is related to the sparrow and that you would not say. I think it's really wonderful to see.

Maria said...

Love both male and female.

Unknown said...

I haven't seen the eastern towhee yet, only the spotted one. hope to see it in the future. You still got good shots even with the branches, adds to the charm.

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