Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Eastern Towhee

These are the greatest pictures as they were taken through a window, but this is the Towhee  The female is a mostly light brown bird with rusty red brown sides and white belly.  Long brown tail with white tip.  Short stout pointed bill with rich red eye.  She has White wing patches that flash in flight.  I think this is what these pictures are of, the female.

The birds are seen hopping backwards with both feet to rake up the leaf litter, called bilateral scratching, in search of insects and seeds.  The female takes care of the brood, the male feeds the young.

They have 3 to 4 creamy white with brown marking eggs. 12 to 13 days incubation.

Looks like a small robin to me.




No comments: