The bird does seem to be a regular but it also seems to be a Spotted
Towhee. Yesterday I saw it again and it definitely has a black head and
back and I did not see any wing bars BUT about an hour before I saw it, I
heard a Spotted Towhee in the greenbelt next to my yard. I would assume it
is the same bird, especially since I have heard from others that they too
have seen non-spotted Spotted Towhees.

Does anyone know how common the non-spotted plumage is? Must be a real
bear to distinguish them in the Midwest where the 2 species meet.

Bruce Fischer
Aberdeen, WA

>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.