Throw seeds on the ground to attract spotted towhees

A juvenile spotted towhee snacks on seeds dropped from a feeder. Photo by J.J. Meyer

I was lucky to have a family of spotted towhees visit my yard this spring.  The parents brought their brood of three to the area under our seed feeder where they taught them the "Towhee Two Step" to scratch for food. 

One evening at dusk, an adult called from a tall branch in our thick shrubbery.  In seconds one juvenile, then a second flew into the brush.  It must have been curfew and the parent was calling them home to roost. 

Spotted towhees are large sparrows with a thick bill, short neck, chunky body and a long, rounded tail.  Adult males have black heads and throats, wings and backs are spotted white, their flanks are rufous and bellies are white.  Females have a gray or brown tint to their head and neck.  Spotted towhees typically forage for seeds and insects on the ground.

Happy Birding!
J.J.