LXIX 



TOWHEE; CHEWINK; JOEEE; GROUND ROBIN 

 587. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linn.) 



The upper part of the head and breast of the Towhee 

 is of a glossy black, meeting with pure white on the lower 

 breast, bordered by a beautiful chestnut brown; the tail 

 feathers are black, the outer web on the first being a 

 pure white that shows plainly when in flight. The iris is 

 deep red. (Fig. 104.) 



These birds nest on the ground near dead logs and 

 roots of trees, and beneath heaps of brush. The eggs 

 number from three to five and are of a grayish-white with 

 brown spots. The male is much more elegantly dressed 

 than the female. As a boy I knew this bird as the Joree 

 'bird. There are very few wooded hillsides covered with 

 underbrush and briars that do not harbor one or more 

 pairs of these confiding birds. 



In the vicinity of Kansas City, in mild or open win- 

 ters, they often remain with us all the season, especially 

 along streams bordered by a heavy growth of timber. 

 They range from Canada to Texas and breed generally 

 over their entire range. The Towhee is about eight 

 inches long. It will let you approach it but is really shy 

 and hard to keep in sight; it rarely flies far or high, when 

 you go near it, but sneaks through the underbrush, hop- 

 ping from one limb to another or to a briar, flying only 

 when crowded, and then only from the edge of one thicket 

 to another. Like a Texas Road Runner, it covers dis- 

 tance quickly by a half-running and half -flying gait and 

 is not a graceful flyer, as its flight appears to be made 

 with much effort. The legs of this bird are strong and 

 its claws are sharp, well adapted to vigorous ground 

 scratching while seeking food among the dead leaves. 



Early in the love-making and breeding season the 

 Towhee has a pleasing song of limited range; this is 

 uttered for long periods at a time, from a low limb, and 

 the singer seemingly enjoys the song as much as his mate 

 does. The latter apparently pays no attention to the 



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