Towhee: Pipilo erythrophthalmue. Chewink, Ground Robin.
PLATE 31.
Length: 7.60—8.75 inches.
Male: Head, neck, chest, back, and all but outer tail feathers black. Belly and spots on outer tail feathers white, sides light bay. Bill black ; feet light brown.
Female: Drab or brownish where the male is black.
Song: Clear and ringing, “ Tewéek—tewéek—towhee—blure—towhea blure l "
Season: Common summer resident; late April to October.
Breeds: In its range generally.
Nest .v 0n the ground; of grass, fibres, hair, etc. ; large but well con- cealed by underbrush.
Eggs: White, heavily speckled with brown.
Range: Eastern United States and southern Canada, west to the Plains. ‘
In early May when the Thrushes are scratching in the shrubbery, a stranger appears among them, clad in bay, white, and black, who hops with such exaggerated precision that he seems like a messenger bearing important news. But it is only another of the Sparrow tribe, wearing the thick bill of the Buntings. He has probably been in ' the vicinity a week or two but has kept aloof. He bears the local name of Ground Robin, because he nests upon the ground and has partially reddish under parts.
Although common summer residents they are so shy that they are rarely seen after the breedingseason. If you ap- proach the nest, the male will run through the bushes in an opposite direction, uttering his sharp “ tewéek, towhee” (a note which suggested the name Towhee) and in his anxiety exposes himself fully to view. Late in the afternoon he mounts a tree, at some distance from his nest, and rings out his rather defiant song.
He is a. very restless bird, prying about continually for seeds and insects, upon which he feeds equally, and in autumn he also eats such berries as he can glean, After
the moulting he only gives his call note and, being affected
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