Common Nesting Birds

meet your neighbors

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Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus )

Photo © J.M. Kosciw

Eastern Towhee nest

Photo © René Corado

Eastern Towhee eggs

Photo © René Corado

Adult male

Photo © Jack & Holly Bartholmai | Macaulay Library

Female/immature

Photo © Marky Mutchler | Macaulay Library

Adult male (White-eyed)

Photo © Daniel Emlin | Macaulay Library

Juvenile

Photo © Mark R Johnson | Macaulay Library

Female/immature

Photo © Mark R Johnson | Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Andres Vasquez Noboa | Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Davey Walters | Macaulay Library

Juvenile

Photo © Bert Fisher | Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Michael Cerizo | Macaulay Library

Adult male

Photo © Brad Vatrt | Macaulay Library

Song

© Glenn Seeholzer | Macaulay Library

Song

© Wil Hershberger | Macaulay Library

Song

© Brad Walker | Macaulay Library

Song

© Paul Marvin | Macaulay Library

Song

© Jeff Graham | Macaulay Library

Complex song

© David Ewert | Macaulay Library

Calls

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library

Calls

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library

Tink calls

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library

Flight calls

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library

When To Look

Source: Birds of the World

Where To Find It

Source: Birds of the World

Habitats

open woodland

shrub

Substrates

ground

Vine or Tangle

What You'll Find

Nest Type

cup

Chick

Altricial

Clutch Size

2
3
5
6

Nest Height

5 ft
0 ft

Nesting Statistics

Incubation Period

12-13
days

Brooding Period

10-12
days

Useful Hints

  • Eastern Towhees usually nest on the ground, the nest cup sunk into the fallen leaves up to the level of the rim.
  • Only the female towhee builds the nest.
  • Eastern Towhees are common victims of the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird. Towhees, unlike some other birds, show no ability to recognize or remove the imposter’s eggs.

More Resources

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology