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Critter of the Month
Critter of the Month - FEBRUARY Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
A striking, large sparrow, the Eastern Towhee resides here in Tennessee year round. It's bold black and reddish-markings make it most handsome. Like most sparrows, Eastern towhees are stalkers and quite shy. Many times you'll hear them scrapping in the leaf litter long before yoiu see them for they are most comfortable in the undergrowth of bushes and thickets.
The female Eastern Towhee is a bit drabber than the male. Her colors are a muted brown with reddish-markings making her even harder to spot among dead leaves and brush.
Towhees eat many foods. From seeds and fruits to insects, spiders and snails. In spring they enjoy the soft new leaves and flower buds as well.
Eastern Towhees nest on the ground, their nest cup sunk into fallen leaves. Clutch size is 2-6 eggs and they can have 1-3 broods in a season.
The Eastern Towhees song has a mnemonic is one you won't easily forget once learned. If you listen really closely it sounds like they say..."Drink you tea" with the end of the word tea drawn out.
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