The eastern towhee is a robin-sized bird, and a member of the sparrow family. Their range spans the whole eastern United States; in the southern states they are year-round residents, while north of roughly Virginia, they are migratory and only present during the summer breeding season.
Despite their supposed commonality, towhees are a species that often remains elusive for me, outside of specific locations. Just this year, I have twice found them at Lackawanna State Park, which was a bit of a surprise.
For my best chance of seeing a towhee, the Eales Preserve is my go-to, as they seem to enjoy the scrub oak and dwarf pines of the barrens. That’s where I found this individual, just prior to leaf-out this spring. He was wary, as towhees usually are, but I was able to capture two quick shots through the branches before he moved away.
With their red eyes and rusty underside plumage, they are handsome birds, and as much as anything I appreciate the challenge of working with them – it makes a good capture all the more rewarding.