Now that the Eastern Rufous-sided Towhee and the Spotted Towhee are
considered distinct species it's certainly worth a closer look. Is the bird
regular at Fischer's feeder? Where is it? Would it be possible for others to
visit, take fotos, etc. I for one would love to add an honest to God
Rufous-sided Towhee to my Washington State list. I don't know that there is
as yet an official record. However, it's not just a lack of spotting on the
back. What of the greater coverts, wing-bars, etc.? Perhaps there are other
differences I'm not aware of, since until the split I must admit I hardly
paid attention. There are vocal differences, but at this season that might
not help much.

Gene Hunn.

At 11:54 AM 10/25/98 -0700, you wrote:
>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
>
>
>
>