Pipilo maculatus
interior female
The Spotted Towhee is well-marked long-tailed songbird. The sexes are subtly dissimilar and regional plumage variation also exists. Adult males have a black hood, upperparts, and tail; the extent of white markings on the wings and back varies according to the subspecies. Interior birds have white spots on the back, two white wingbars, and other white feather edges. At the other extreme, Pacific Northwest birds have almost unspotted black backs and reduced white wing markings. All birds have reddish-orange flanks, a white center to the belly, a buff undertail, and a red eye. Adult females are similar to their respective regional males but black elements of the plumage are dark brown. Juveniles are brown and streaked with two pale wingbars.
The Spotted Towhee has a complicated North American distribution. It is present year-round across much of the west of its range, but birds that breed in the north and interior are present there mainly from April to September, migrating south in fall. The species’ winter range extends to Mexico. It often feeds in dense cover and is not always easy to see well.
Pacific Northwest male
interior male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 7.5 in (19 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates and fallen seeds
HABITAT Chaparral and scrubby woodland, and dense brush
STATUS Widespread and common resident and partial migrant
VOICE Song is a series of trill phrases, sometimes preceded by whistling notes. Call is a rasping mew
