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
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
The Eastern towhee, one of 9 species identified as declining regionally in the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's State of Our Birds report, is declining by more than 3 percent annually.
—Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Jan. 2023
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
The Eastern towhee, one of 9 species identified as declining regionally in the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's State of Our Birds report, is declining by more than 3 percent annually.
—Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'towhee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Towhee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/towhee. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
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