Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
The Eastern Towhee is a small brown and sometimes black/brown bird with white breast, visible year-round in the Cincinnati area (though it may be harder to spot during the winter month. Though it is typically fairly secretive, it's often given away by the scratching sounds it makes when searching through the underbrush in thickets. Males also often sing from high perches during mating season. The sound of this mating call gives the bird its common name: "Chewink".
Feeding: The Eastern Towhee typically forrages on the ground for insects, seeds and berries. In the summer especially, its voracious diet consists of mainly insects, including beetles, ants, spiders and snails.
Parenting: Nests are often on the ground under a shrub, though may be up to five feet from the ground. These nests are built by the female, and are formed into an open cup of dried grass, twigs and animal hair. Eggs typically number 3-5 and are creamy white to pale gray in color with brown spots. Though the female typically incubates the eggs for 12-13 days, both parents participate in feeding the young. Mating occurs two to three times per year.
When Can I See It? The Eastern Towhee is visible practically year-round in our area. More information is visible in our Sighting Table.
Information courtesy of The Audobon Society. Photo courtesy of The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.