The Four Keys to ID
- Size & Shape
A large sparrow with a thick, pointed bill, short neck, chunky body, and long, rounded tail.
Relative Size
About a third again bigger than a Song Sparrow and twice as heavy. Smaller than a robin.
robin-sizedMeasurements
- Both Sexes
- Length: 6.7-8.3 in (17-21 cm)
- Weight: 1.2-1.7 oz (33-49 g)
- Wingspan: 11.0 in (28 cm)
© Alice Domalik / Macaulay Library
- Color Pattern
Male Spotted Towhees have jet-black upperparts and throat; their wings and back are spotted bright white. The flanks are warm rufous and the belly is white. Females have the same pattern but are grayish brown where males are black. In flight, look for white corners to the black tail.
© John Reynolds / Macaulay Library - Behavior
Spotted Towhees hop over the ground beneath dense tangles of shrubs, scratching in leaf litter for food. They also climb into lower branches to search for insects and fruits, or to deliver their quick, buzzy song. Towhees can fly long distances, but more often make short, slow flights between patches of cover.
- Habitat
Look for Spotted Towhees in open, shrubby habitat with thick undergrowth. Spotted Towhees are also at home in backyards, forest edges, and overgrown fields.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay Library
