towhee

[ tou-hee, toh-hee, toh-ee ]

noun

1. any of several long-tailed North American finches of the genera Pipilo and Chlorura.

towhee

/ ˈtaʊhɪ; ˈtəʊ- /

noun

1. any of various North American brownish-coloured sparrows of the genera Pipilo and Chlorura

Word History and Origins

Origin of towhee¹

An Americanism dating back to 1720–30; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of towhee¹

C18: imitative of its note

Example Sentences

She provides shelter, nesting materials, and food to myriad juncos, black-capped chickadees, chestnut-backed chickadees, nuthatches, Bewick’s wrens, towhees, all our native woodpeckers, various migratory birds, pollinators, and so many other wildlife.

From Seattle Times

They also recognized acorn woodpeckers, a California towhee, dozens of turkey vultures circling overhead, a dark-eyed junco, a mockingbird, an Anna’s hummingbird and a black phoebe.

From Los Angeles Times

As of this writing, it’s logged 194 house finch visits, 83 California towhee drop-bys, 5 squirrel sorties and a lone pine siskin pop in.

From Los Angeles Times

The first species they identified — a rufous-sided towhee with a velvety black head, bright red and white breast, and ruby eyes — was the first bird Joanne ticked off on her life list.

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers spotted birds in the severely burned patches that they didn’t find in the unburned ones, including the indigo bunting, chestnut-sided warbler and eastern towhee.

From Washington Post