Birds Spotted Towhee

[Doug Herr]

Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus) are members of the sparrow family, Passerellidae, that live in the western states and southern portions of western provinces of North America. It was formerly considered conspecific with the Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythopthalmus) of the eastern part of the continent but recently (relatively, at least within my lifetime!) it was recognized as a distinct species. In my area (Sacramento County California) these seed-eaters are non-migratory, preferring dense brush and understory.

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 400

male Spotted Towhee

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 400

male Spotted Towhee

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/200 sec
• ISO 500

female Spotted Towhee

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 640

female Spotted Towhee​

 

[pointreyes]

I'm so glad to see the Spotted Towhee nesting on my property again. Once the neighbor that had free range cats moved, the population started to increase again. Love hearing them rustling about in the leaves.