The Eastern Towhee is a handsome bird of eastern deciduous forests and parks. The towhee is black above (to the breast) and white below, with rufous-colored flanks. The tail is long and fringed with white. Eastern Towhees in the northern parts of their range have red eyes and birds in southern Georgia and Florida have white eyes. The bill is short and conical. Females are similar but brown rather than black. The towhee can be confused with the American Robin at a distance. The Towhee is often first detected by its distinctive song, which sounds like "drink-your-teeeeaaa."

Diet: Insects, spiders, fruit, berries. Towhees feed on or near the ground and often reveal their presence with their double-footed scratching techniques - which helps to flush out insects. Towhees may also come to feeders for seeds.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, areas with extensive undergrowth, open areas with shrubs and thickets, suburban parks, gardens.

Range: Breeds throughout the eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada, west to the Great Plains. The Towhee is a year-round resident in the southern two-thirds of its range.

Nesting: Towhees build their nests on the ground, usually hidden within the tangles and shrubs. Females lay 2-6 spotted eggs. The young fledge within a month.

Status: The Eastern Towhee is still common, but studies have suggested moderate to severe declines in the northern part of its range.