Birds With Funny Names

Rufous-sided Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

We usually see these pretty birds on the ground doing a little dance as they scratch up insects and seeds like a barnyard chicken. This morning I caught this male outside the window in a snowball bush.

The Towhees are summer birds, choosing to spend the cold months in the southern states and Mexico. They're not going to be happy later on this week when it snows.


Towhees are about eight inches in length, just a little smaller than a robin.

This is the male. The female (not in picture) is just as striking. She has all the same colors in the same pattern but her head, bib, and back are a rich, deep brown instead of black.


Tufted Titmouse (Parus bicolor)

These perky little birds come to the sunflower feeder year round.

They're six inches long, about the size of a sparrow. The male and female look alike.