A large sparrow-relative — males are black above, white below, rust on the flanks; females the same pattern but warm brown. Distinctive "drink-your-TEA" song from low brush.

Also called: Chewink, Ground Robin, Rufous-sided Towhee (older grouping)

Native status: Native to eastern US; declining

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 17–23 cm (6.7–9.1 in); wingspan 20–28 cm
Weight32–53 g
LifespanWild typically 7 years; oldest documented 12.5
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPasserellidae

§ Encyclopedia

The eastern towhee, also known as chewink, joree, or joree bird, is a large New World sparrow. The taxonomy of the towhees has been under debate in recent decades, and formerly this bird and the spotted towhee were considered a single species, the rufous-sided towhee.

Source: Wikipedia — Eastern towhee Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Males: black hood and back, rusty flanks, white belly, white tail corners flashing in flight. Females: same pattern but warm brown where male is black. Striking red eye (white in Florida subspecies).

Similar species. Spotted Towhee (white spots on wings and back; western range). American Robin (different shape, no rufous flanks).

Voice. Famous "drink-your-TEA!" song with the last note an extended trill; sharp "chewink!" call.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Seeds, fruits, insects, spiders, snails, occasional small lizards or snakes — forages by "double-scratch" backward kicking through leaf litter (the audible scratch is often the first sign of a towhee in the brush).

Behavior. Large sparrow of brushy edges and woodland understory. Was historically lumped with Spotted Towhee as "Rufous-sided Towhee" until split in 1995 based on DNA, plumage, and song differences. Decline of ~50% since 1966 attributed to loss of brushy early-successional habitat.

§ Range

Eastern US (year-round south, summer north)

§ Habitat

Brushy thickets, shrubby woodland edges, hedgerows

§ Threats

Loss of shrubby thickets, lawn-centric yards, pesticide drift, cat predation.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern towhee is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Maintain shrubby thickets. Skip pesticides. Keep cats indoors.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • National Audubon Society
  • American Bird Conservancy
  • IUCN Red List 2018