Bruce Fischer writes:

>I noticed this morning a Towhee was visiting the feeder in my yard. But
>when I put my binoculars on it the back was all black except for a small
>white spot on each side of the bird (similar to the Eastern Towhee). I've
>checked my birdbooks and they all seem to claim Spotted Towhees should
>always have a spotted back.

>Could this be an Eastern Towhee? Or do Spotted Towhees not always show
>spots on the back?

Bruce and Tweeters,

I, too, am curious about this, as others on Tweeters occasionally report
"Eastern Rufous-sided Towhees" in western Washington, apparently based on
the lack of back spotting. In Clallam County I have seen several towhees
with very little or essentially no back spotting, acting like any other
local towhee in typical habitat. One very unspotted bird was resident in
my yard throughout a breeding season, acting very much like a local
breeder. The typical towhee here is definitely spotted, however.

I'm skeptical that the mere paucity of spotting means that the bird is an
eastern Rufous-sided, as it seems like not all "Spotted" Towhees are
equally spotted, and a small percent may even be close to unspotted. My
guess is that this character has more individual variation than the field
guides show. There may be some genetic variability in the amount and
number of spots, or perhaps this varies with time of year depending on
molt (this would mean that fewer spots would be present towards the end
of the breeding season, when feathers show the greatest wear, which is
apparently not true with your bird if you saw it recently).

Of course the occasional Rufous-sided may show up, but what
characteristics other than back spotting can one use to confirm this?
Are there voice differences between the Rufous-sided and Spotted? Female
Rufous-sideds would obviously be different, but not necessarily males.
Any suggestions?

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim