Towhees are a group of small birds belonging to the sparrow family that are found throughout North America. There are several species of towhees, including the Eastern Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Abert’s Towhee, and others. Towhees are recognizable by their colorful plumage, large size, and habit of hopping on the ground and digging with both feet to uncover food. One of the most common questions asked about towhees is whether they migrate. The answer depends on the specific species.
Do Eastern Towhees Migrate?
The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) is found in eastern North America. This large, long-tailed sparrow has black upperparts, rufous sides, and a white belly. The males have striking red eyes. Eastern Towhees inhabit brushy fields, forest edges, and overgrown clearings. In the northern parts of their range, Eastern Towhees are migratory, while populations in the southern United States and Mexico are year-round residents.
Eastern Towhees breed in the United States and southern Canada during the spring and summer. As autumn approaches, most of the northern populations will migrate south to spend the winter. Their winter range extends from Texas east to Florida and north to North Carolina. Rare vagrant winter sightings occur as far north as Massachusetts and Ontario, Canada. Eastern Towhees start migrating south in September and October. They make the return trip north from March through May.
So in summary, the answer is yes, Eastern Towhees do migrate, but only the populations breeding in the northern parts of their range. The southern populations remain year-round residents.
Fall Migration
During the autumn migration period of September and October, Eastern Towhees vacate their breeding territories in the northern United States and Canada. They migrate south at night and cover an average of 20 to 40 miles per night. Their total migration route can extend 500 to 1,000 miles between their summer and winter sites.
Eastern Towhees migrate alone rather than in flocks. They stop to rest and feed in thickets, forest edges, and overgrown fields during the day. Their diet during migration consists of seeds, fruits, and insects. Good berry crops and abundant seed sources help sustain migrating towhees on their long journey.
Spring Migration
As the days lengthen in March and April, Eastern Towhees begin their migration north to their breeding grounds. The males arrive first and establish breeding territories, followed by the females a week or two later. Towhees once again migrate at night and stop to rest during the day. They retrace their migration route back to their previous breeding sites with impressive accuracy, often returning to within 300 feet of where they nested the prior year.
Upon arriving back on their summer breeding grounds in May, the males sing their characteristic “drink your tea” song to establish territories and attract mates. They prefer sites with dense undergrowth near forest edges or open land. After mating, the females build nests low in shrubs or saplings. The migration allows Eastern Towhees to take advantage of the abundance of insects and seeds available during the spring and summer months on their northern breeding grounds.
Do Spotted Towhees Migrate?
The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) inhabits brushy areas across western North America. As their name implies, Spotted Towhees are distinguished by the white spots on their black wings and back. Their breeding habitat ranges from British Columbia through the western United States to Mexico. Spotted Towhees reside year-round over much of their range. However, some northern populations do migrate moderate distances.
In Canada and the northern U.S., Spotted Towhees migrate south in the fall, starting in September and October. They spend the winter across the southern U.S. and Mexico before heading north again in the spring. In contrast, most California towhees and those across the southern U.S. and Mexico do not migrate.
The Spotted Towhee’s migration is shorter than that of the Eastern Towhee, covering 500 miles or less between breeding and wintering sites. Their routes follow mountain ranges like the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. Most Spotted Towhee populations are short-distance migrants, but some may skip migration altogether depending on the winter weather.
Seasonal Movements
While not all Spotted Towhees migrate in the typical sense, many populations do make seasonal elevational movements. For example, birds that breed at higher mountain elevations may move downhill to lower elevations in winter. This altitudinal migration allows them to escape harsh winter conditions in the mountains while still remaining in their general home ranges.
In addition, Spotted Towhees are somewhat nomadic outside of the breeding season. They may wander widely in search of abundant food sources. This can result in irregular winter movements year to year as the towhees follow the seed crop. But their seasonal movements are more localized and less directional compared to true migration over long distances.
Do Canyon Towhees Migrate?
The Canyon Towhee (Melozone fusca) is a southwestern species found in arid habitats. Their range stretches from southern California and southern Nevada south into central Mexico. Canyon Towhees occupy desert scrub and chaparral habitats with excellent cover and rocky soils.
These towhees do not make seasonal migrations. Populations are generally non-migratory and remain in their breeding areas year-round. However, some altitudinal movements may occur in mountainous areas, with towhees moving to lower elevations in winter. For example, towhees may descend from high elevation sites in the spring and return in summer to breed.
Canyon Towhees maintain year-round residency throughout the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. They are well-adapted to endure the hot, dry conditions in their desert and chaparral summer breeding habitats as well as the cooler winters. Their non-migratory nature is likely tied to the relative mildness of the region and available food sources year-round.
In California, Canyon Towhees may wander outside of the breeding season and engage in some nomadic movements in response to food availability. But these movements are local and irregular, not like the predictable, directed migrations of species like the Eastern Towhee. Overall, Canyon Towhees do not migrate and maintain year-round territories.
Do Abert’s Towhees Migrate?
The Abert’s Towhee (Melozone aberti) inhabits the arid scrublands of the southwestern U.S. Their range stretches from southern California to western Texas and south into Mexico. This plain-colored towhee has a long tail and pinkish legs.
Like the closely related Canyon Towhee, Abert’s Towhees are year-round residents within their range. They do not undertake seasonal migrations. The populations remain in the same general territory throughout the year.
However, Abert’s Towhees may make minor elevational movements in mountainous areas, moving to lower elevations for the winter. For example, populations breeding in higher mountain forests may shift downslope into the foothills in winter. But these are localized movements, not extended migrations.
The birds also nomadically wander outside of breeding season in search of better food resources. But their movements are irregular and limited in scope. Overall, Abert’s Towhees maintain permanent residency and do not migrate annually like other species. Their non-migratory nature allows them remain in suitable habitat year-round within their arid southwestern range.
Why Do Some Towhee Species Migrate While Others Do Not?
The migration patterns of North American towhees fall along a continuum, with some species migrating long distances while other stay put year-round. What factors influence this variation in migratory behavior? Several ecological and geographical considerations help explain it:
Breeding Range
Towhees like the Eastern Towhee that breed in northern latitudes where winters are harsh and food becomes scarce migrate south to warmer climates where resources are more abundant. In contrast, southern species like the Canyon and Abert’s Towhees reside in mild climates year-round, so they do not need to migrate to escape cold winters.
Food Availability
Towhees switch their diet during winter to seeds and fruits when insects are scarce. The availability of winter food sources influences migration needs. If adequate food remains through winter, there is less incentive to migrate. Frugivorous towhees in the southwest can persist on berries and seeds year-round.
Migratory Ancestry
Evolutionarily, some towhee lineages may have originated as migratory species and retained that ancestral migratory tendency. Other lineages that diverged in sedentary southern regions evolved to be non-migratory.
Elevation
Towhees in mountainous areas may migrate downslope but not over long distances. These altitudinal movements allow them to escape extreme winters at high elevations.
Irruptions
In some years, non-migratory towhees may “irrupt” outside their normal range if food shortages force them to wander further. But this is a facultative response, not true migration.
So in summary, the migratory tendencies of North American towhees depend on a combination of environmental conditions, evolutionary history, and geographical constraints that collectively favor either migrating or remaining sedentary across seasons.
What Are Some Hazards Towhees Face During Migration?
Towhees undertaking long migrations can face a number of hazards along the way:
Lack of food resources
Finding adequate food at stopover sites is critical. Towhees need abundant seeds, fruits, and insects to refuel during migration. Habitat loss reduces food availability.
Unfavorable weather
Storms, high winds, fog, or extreme temperatures can ground migrating towhees and possibly lead to exhaustion or death from exposure.
Predators
Migrating towhees are vulnerable to predators, including large raptors, snakes, and mammals. Lack of cover makes birds more susceptible.
Geographical barriers
Navigating around or traversing physical barriers like mountains, deserts, or oceans poses risks and increases migration distance.
Disorientation
Towhees can get off course, lose their way, or become disoriented by light pollution during migration, wasting energy.
Human-caused threats
Collisions with buildings, communication towers, and wind turbines are hazards, as are invasive species, pesticides, pollution, and habitat loss.
Despite these risks, most migratory towhees have evolved excellent navigational abilities and fat stores that power their marathon migrations between breeding and wintering grounds.
How Do Towhees Navigate During Migration?
The ability to orient themselves and navigate over vast distances is key to birds’ migratory success. Towhees and other migratory species use a combination of innate and learned cues to determine the direction of migration:
Celestial cues
Towhees use the position of the sun during the day and stars at night to identify north/south direction. They compensate for the sun’s movement by using an internal clock.
Earth’s magnetic field
Towhees can detect subtle variations in the planet’s magnetic field, acting as a built-in compass to determine their latitude and longitude.
Landscape cues
Familiar landmarks from previous migrations, like rivers, mountains, coastlines, and vegetation, help towhees orient themselves.
Smell and memory
Scents and memories of habitats from prior migrations provide clues for returning to the same breeding or wintering sites.
GPS-like system
Towhees may have a positioning system based on the ability to integrate cues like sunset direction and magnetic field patterns to determine their location.
So towhees integrate information from multiple sources to create a detailed “map” guiding their route over distances of up to 1,000 miles between their seasonal habitats. Their incredible navigational abilities are key to migration success.
How Do Juvenile Towhees Learn Migration Routes?
Young towhees embarking on their first migration face the challenge of navigating without experience. They use the following strategies to learn migration routes:
Genetic programming
Towhees are born with innate information and directional tendencies programmed by genetics that guide migration orientation.
Following parents
Juveniles may travel with parents their first migration, learning the routes and stopover sites.
Traveling with experienced birds
Young towhees migrate in loose flocks, gaining navigation information by observing other experienced adults.
Advance preparation
Towhees develop their magnetic compass sense and ability to use celestial cues while still young to prepare for migration.
Route imprinting
Making the migration journey imprints the route on juveniles’ brains for future reference.
Corrective adjustments
Towhees make small corrections if they overshoot destinations, reinforcing the proper route.
Local information
For short-distance migrants, juveniles may already know regional landmarks helpful for navigation.
Through inherited programs combined with learned environmental cues, young towhees can successfully migrate and return to breeding sites, even on their first journey. This ensures they adopt the routes between seasonal ranges.
Conclusion
Towhees demonstrate a range of migratory behaviors, from long-distance migration in northern species like the Eastern Towhee to year-round residency in southwestern species like the Abert’s Towhee. Their migratory tendencies are shaped by ecological factors like food availability and geographical constraints. Towhees navigate using sophisticated inborn senses and learned environmental cues. Young towhees combine genetic information with experience to adopt their population’s traditional migration routes. Understanding migration helps illuminate an amazing aspect of towhees’ life histories. Careful habitat management and protection of stopover sites are needed to support migrating towhees on their incredible seasonal journeys.