Species BirdsSpotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Pipilo maculatus

CommonBird
Illustration of Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

The Spotted Towhee is the western counterpart of the Eastern Towhee, distinguished by white spots on the wings and back. Like its eastern relative, it is a ground forager that double-scratches through leaf litter to expose seeds and insects. It hybridizes with Eastern Towhees in the Great Plains where their ranges overlap.

Habitat
Chaparral, shrubby forest edges, and thickets
Diet
Seeds, acorns, berries, and insects
How common
Common

Best time to see a Spotted Towhee

The best time to see a Spotted Towhee is February–June, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 56,624 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Spotted Towhee sightings near you

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