towhee

noun

to·​whee ˈtō-ˌhē 

ˈtō-(ˌ)ē,

tō-ˈhē 

1

: a long-tailed passerine bird (Pipilo erythrophthalmus of the family Passerellidae) of eastern North America with the male having reddish sides, white underparts, and black upperparts, head, and neck

called also chewink

2

: any various similar related birds (genera Pipilo and Melozone) found mainly in western North America

Note: Towhees live primarily on the ground, often in bushes and thickets, where they feed on insects and seeds.

Examples of towhee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Leaves: Birds like Eastern towhees and wood thrushes use leaves in their nests for camouflage, insulation, and structure. —Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2025

Birds sing and, using an app, Ted identifies the spotted towhee and evening grosbeak. —Alison Osius, Outside Online, 1 July 2024

Seed feeders will attract doves, finches, scrub jays, California and spotted towhees, quail and lesser goldfinch. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024

Ground birds such as dove, quail and towhees will eagerly peck at seed on the ground, but the birds need cover close by in case a prowling Cooper’s hawk is looking for an easy lunch. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024

The species that most commonly exhibit this are northern mockingbirds, northern cardinals, eastern towhees, and eastern bluebirds. —Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Expect to see resident birds such as the black phoebe, Cassin’s kingbird, California and spotted towhee, song sparrow and red-tailed, red-shoulder and Cooper’s hawks. —Kim Janssen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023

An Eastern towhee was spotted in the leaves as Strickland Wheelock led a bird tour in the Great Swamp. —Billy Baker, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2023

Some species, such as Eastern towhees and common yellowthroats, will make their nests in brush piles. —Scott Kirkwood, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

probably imitative of the bird's call

Note: This name for the bird was first recorded by the English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) in The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, vol. 1 (London, 1731), p. 34. The description of the bird is under the heading "The Towhe-Bird." The heading "Passer niger, oculis rubris [black sparrow with red eyes], the Towhe Bird" without the description was published slightly earlier by Cromwell Mortimer in "VI. An account of Mr. Mark Catesby's essay towards the natural history of Carolina and the Bahama Isands, with some extracts out of the first three sets," Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 36, issue 415 (December 31, 1730), p. 430. If the name is descriptive of the bird's two-note call, as is usually assumed, the original stress was probably on the second syllable.

First Known Use

circa 1729, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

towhee

noun

to·​whee ˈtō-ˌhē  ˈtō-ē 

tō-ˈhē

: a finch of eastern North America in which the male has a black back, a white belly, and reddish sides

also : any of various related birds mostly of the western U.S. and Canada