Towhees are common North American birds, recognized by their distinctive calls and a tendency to spend much of their time on the ground. These members of the New World sparrow family, which include the Eastern and Spotted Towhees. They are often heard rustling in dense vegetation, even if they remain out of sight.
Natural Diet of Towhees
The diet of towhees is diverse. During the breeding months of spring and summer, their intake shifts towards animal matter, which provides essential protein for raising their young. This includes a wide array of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, wasps, bees, and various moths and caterpillars. They also consume other invertebrates like spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and snails. Occasionally, they may even prey on small amphibians, lizards, or snakes.
As seasons transition to fall and winter, plant matter becomes the dominant component of their diet, sometimes making up 70% to 85% of their food intake. They forage for various seeds, including those from ragweed, oak acorns, smartweed, corn, panicgrass, and blackberry. Additionally, towhees consume a variety of wild fruits and berries, such as blueberries, wax-myrtle, apples, raspberries, wild grapes, poison oak, sumac, and nightshade.
Foraging Habits and Preferred Habitats
Towhees are primarily ground-dwelling birds. They employ a method known as the “double-scratch,” where they simultaneously kick both feet backward to clear away leaf litter and other debris. This vigorous action effectively uncovers hidden insects, seeds, and invertebrates beneath the surface.
While they mostly forage on the ground, towhees also glean food from low vegetation, twigs, branches, and occasionally low trees. Their preferred habitats typically consist of dense undergrowth, shrubby areas, and the edges of forests. These environments provide both ample food sources and the necessary cover.
Attracting Towhees to Your Yard
To encourage towhees to visit your yard, replicate their natural feeding and habitat preferences. Offering seeds, particularly on the ground or in low tray feeders, is effective. Black oil sunflower seeds, white proso millet, cracked corn, and shelled peanuts are favored choices.
Creating a suitable environment is equally important. Planting native shrubs and berry-producing plants like blueberries, wild grapes, holly-leaf cherry, coffeeberry, and elderberry provides natural food sources and protective cover. Leaving leaf litter undisturbed allows towhees to forage naturally using their double-scratch method. Additionally, providing a fresh water source, such as a bird bath, can make your yard more appealing.