334 Trees, Stars, and Birds 



various kinds of wild fruits, seeds, and insects. They 

 often scratch among the fallen leaves. 



The names " towhee " and " chewink " are attempts 

 to imitate the call of this bird, but the full song has 

 several more syllables. The male, perched in the top of 

 a low tree or tall bush, repeats his song many times. 



Towhees usually nest under a bush or brush pile. 

 Their eggs resemble those of cowbirds, being finely and 

 evenly speckled with reddish brown, the color of the 

 towhee's sides. Cowbirds often lay their eggs in the 

 nest of the towhee. 



