Ground feeder and hopper extraordinaire, one of the identifying behaviors of the Towhee is the way it hops backward and scratches the ground to uncover its food. Other ground feeders do this, too, but the Towhee being larger than Juncos or most other sparrows, they make a little more of a show of it. They can be rather easily identified by ear as they sometimes say their name - "tow-HEE!" I find in the spring and summer months I hear them happily "tow-HEE"ing away, and making lots of racket working their way through the leaves, only to have a difficult time actually locating them. They also make a sort of "cheWINK" sound, and let us not forget their trademark song of "Drink your TEEEEEEEE!"
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Plume Zoom 5, answer revealed
Ground feeder and hopper extraordinaire, one of the identifying behaviors of the Towhee is the way it hops backward and scratches the ground to uncover its food. Other ground feeders do this, too, but the Towhee being larger than Juncos or most other sparrows, they make a little more of a show of it. They can be rather easily identified by ear as they sometimes say their name - "tow-HEE!" I find in the spring and summer months I hear them happily "tow-HEE"ing away, and making lots of racket working their way through the leaves, only to have a difficult time actually locating them. They also make a sort of "cheWINK" sound, and let us not forget their trademark song of "Drink your TEEEEEEEE!"
Filed under:
bird quiz answers,
birding by ear,
Eastern Towhee,
Plume Zoom
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5 comments:
lovely pictures. i love nature too :)
Do you see the towhees year round in Ohio? They have become very scarce in Minnesota and I haven't seen or heard one in years. A mighty handsome bird!
What a fun bird to watch! Looking forward to the next challenge!
I have never seen one of those with my own two eyes. They look so colorful against the white snow.
Yes, the Towhees are a fun bird, and very easy to spot against the snow.
Ruthie - Yes, I do see the Towhees year-round here in Ohio. That's too bad that their numbers have dwindled in MN. I hope they come back around for you soon!
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