The towhee, a songbird of the genus Pipilo, is a large member of the New World sparrow family. North America is home to several species, but the most frequently encountered are the Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) and the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus). These birds prefer dense, brushy habitats and are highly secretive and ground-dwelling. Males feature a distinctive black hood, rufous flanks, and a white belly, while females exhibit a similar pattern with brown replacing the black coloration. They spend the majority of their lives foraging on the forest floor, which dictates their diet and how to attract them.
The Towhee’s Natural Menu
Towhees are omnivores, consuming a varied diet that shifts depending on the season and resource availability. Generally, their diet is composed of approximately 70% plant material and 30% animal matter, though this ratio changes during the spring and summer months. The breeding season sees a sharp increase in protein consumption, with invertebrates becoming the primary food source for raising young.
During this time, the towhee menu includes a wide array of insects and other arthropods, such as ground beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, millipedes, and snails. Caterpillars and moth larvae are common food items during the nesting period, providing soft, energy-dense sustenance for nestlings.
As the summer progresses into fall and winter, the diet shifts back to plant-based foods, which become the main energy staple. Seeds and grains from wild grasses, weeds, and agricultural crops like oats, wheat, and corn are consumed heavily. They also forage for nuts, such as acorns, and the seeds of plants like ragweed and thistle.
Wild fruits and berries provide an important source of energy, especially during migration and in the colder months. Towhees seek out berries from shrubs and vines, including sumac, poison ivy, elderberries, blackberries, and wild grapes. These high-sugar fruits help the birds store energy reserves.
Foraging Habits and Ground Feeding
The towhee’s feeding behavior is highly specialized. They are almost exclusively ground feeders, rarely venturing to elevated perches outside of singing or surveying their territory. Their preference is for areas with dense leaf litter and thick underbrush, which provides both cover from predators and a rich source of hidden food.
The signature foraging action is known as the “double-scratch.” The towhee jumps forward and then simultaneously kicks both feet backward with force, vigorously raking away leaf litter and debris. This action exposes the seeds, insects, and other invertebrates hidden on or just below the soil surface.
The noise created by this two-footed raking is often the first indicator of a towhee’s presence, as the birds remain concealed within the dense cover. They repeat this double-scratch maneuver multiple times in one spot, creating small, clear impressions in the leaf litter or mulch.
This need for concealment means towhees seldom feed out in the open lawn or far from the protective edge of a shrub line or woodland. Their entire behavioral ecology revolves around searching for food while remaining within a short hop of a safe retreat. The presence of dense, low-lying vegetation is essential for their ability to feed and survive.
Proven Methods for Attracting Towhees
Attracting towhees to a backyard involves mimicking their natural feeding environment and providing the foods they prefer. Since their primary foraging occurs on the ground and under cover, traditional hanging feeders are ineffective. The most successful approach is to offer food at ground level.
Placing a low-profile tray feeder or scattering seed directly on the ground near a brush pile or dense shrubbery will draw towhees. The seed should be placed within a few feet of this cover, allowing them to retreat quickly if they feel threatened. Seeds that appeal most to towhees include white millet, cracked corn, and sunflower hearts or chips.
Cracked corn and millet are effective because they are small, heavy, and easily found by ground-scratching birds. Although towhees will occasionally consume black oil sunflower seed, the hulled hearts are more efficient since the bird does not have to work to remove the shell. Offering high-protein foods like live or dried mealworms, especially during the spring, is also a strong enticement.
Habitat management is important, as food alone is often not enough to attract these shy birds. Leaving a layer of leaf litter undisturbed beneath shrubs and along the edges of the yard creates the ideal substrate for their double-scratch foraging. This practice encourages natural feeding behavior and provides the dense, protective cover they require.
Planting native, fruit-bearing shrubs such as wild grapes, sumac, or blueberries will provide a long-term food source. Providing a shallow, ground-level water source, like a bird bath placed near the same protective vegetation, will encourage them to linger in the area.