Towhees are medium-sized sparrows found throughout North America. There are several species of Towhees, including the Eastern Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Abert’s Towhee, and California Towhee. Towhees build nests in a variety of locations, depending on the species and local habitat. In this article, we will explore where different Towhee species tend to build their nests.
Nesting Habits of Eastern Towhees
The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) is found in eastern North America. This Towhee prefers brushy, overgrown habitats like forest edges, overgrown fields, and hedgerows. Eastern Towhees build bulky nests on the ground or very close to it, tucked into dense vegetation.
Some typical Eastern Towhee nest sites include:
– At the base of shrubs, especially multiflora rose, honeysuckle, and brambles
– Under tufts of grass or other dense ground cover
– Near logs or brush piles
– In rock crevices or cavities
– At the edge of woodland trails
The nest is a cup shape, constructed of leaves, grasses, bark strips, and lined with finer grass and sometimes hair. The female Towhee builds the nest alone over the course of 3-6 days. Nests are usually placed on the ground or within 3 feet off the ground. The nest’s low placement and dense surrounding vegetation helps conceal it from predators.
Ideal Habitat
Eastern Towhees prefer sites with lots of dense undergrowth for nesting. Some habitats that provide ideal nesting spots include:
– Overgrown fields with brushy edges
– Young forests and forest edges
– Recently logged or burned forests with regrowing vegetation
– Rural and suburban parks with dense shrubbery
– Overgrown vacant lots
– Hedgerows and fencerows
– Powerline cuts with thick regrowth
Areas with an abundant shrub layer and dense ground cover allow Eastern Towhees to find the protective nest sites they prefer.
Other Nesting Facts
Here are some other interesting facts about Eastern Towhee nesting habits:
– They usually raise 2 broods per year, with 3-6 eggs per clutch.
– Only the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs.
– The nesting season lasts from April to August, varying by latitude.
– Nests are occasionally parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
– Eastern Towhees may reuse the same nest for second broods or in following years.
Nesting Habits of Spotted Towhees
Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus) inhabit the western half of North America. They build their nests on the ground or very close to it, like Eastern Towhees.
Typical Spotted Towhee nest sites include:
– At the base of shrubs
– Under dense thickets
– Near logs or brush piles
– In rock crevices
– At the edge of trails
– Under overhanging vegetation
The nest is an open cup assembled from leaves, grasses, bark, and other available materials. The female constructs the nest alone over 3-6 days.
Ideal Habitat
Spotted Towhees thrive in habitats with dense undergrowth, where they can hide their ground nests. Some prime nesting areas include:
– Chaparral
– Young forests with a developed understory
– Overgrown clearcuts
– Forest edges
– Brushy field margins
– Hedgerows and fence corners
– Shrubby riparian areas
The abundance of shrubs and vegetation provides the concealed nest sites this species favors.
Other Nesting Facts
Additional details on Spotted Towhee nesting:
– They raise 2-3 broods per year, with 3-5 eggs per clutch.
– Only the female builds the nest and incubates.
– Nesting season lasts from March to August, varying by region.
– Nests are sometimes parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
– Spotted Towhees may reuse nests across different years.
Nesting Habits of Canyon Towhees
The Canyon Towhee (Melozone fusca) inhabits the arid canyonlands of the American Southwest. It nests on the ground or very low in trees and shrubs.
Typical Canyon Towhee nest placement includes:
– At the base of yucca and other shrubs
– Under dense clumps of grass
– Near logs and rock piles
– In crevices in canyon walls
– At the edge of desert washes
– Low in small trees like mesquite
Their nest is a large cup of grasses, leaves, bark strips, feathers, and mammal hair. The female builds it alone over 3-6 days.
Ideal Habitat
Canyon Towhees nest in areas with good ground cover for concealment. Prime nesting habitat includes:
– Desert canyons with scrubby vegetation
– Patchy oak and juniper woodlands
– Brushy ravines and washes
– Mesquite bosques along desert watercourses
– Rocky hillsides with shrubs and grasses
The scattered vegetation helps provide nest sites protected from the hot desert sun.
Other Nesting Facts
More details about Canyon Towhee breeding:
– They raise 2-3 broods per year, with 3-5 eggs per clutch.
– Only the female builds nests and incubates eggs.
– The nesting season lasts from March to July.
– Nests are sometimes parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
– Canyon Towhees occasionally reuse nests from previous years.
Nesting Habits of Abert’s Towhees
Abert’s Towhee (Melozone aberti) lives in the arid southwest. It makes its nest low in dense shrubs, trees, or scrubby vegetation.
Some common Abert’s Towhee nest sites:
– At the base of sagebrush, mesquite, and other shrubs
– In low oak, juniper, and pinyon trees
– Under clumps of yucca and other plants
– Near logs or rock piles on the ground
– In rocky crevices or cavities
– At the edge of washes and gullies
The nest is a bulky cup assembled from grasses, leaves, bark strips, and feathers. The female builds it alone over 3-6 days.
Ideal Habitat
Abert’s Towhees nest in areas with good ground cover for hiding nests, such as:
– Piñon-juniper woodlands
– Sagebrush plains
– Chaparral
– Desert canyons with scrubby vegetation
– Brushy ravines and washes
– Open ponderosa pine forests with undergrowth
The scattered shrubs and trees provide the low nest sites this species requires.
Other Nesting Facts
Additional Abert’s Towhee nesting information:
– They raise 2-3 broods per year, with 3-5 eggs per clutch.
– Only the female builds and incubates the nest.
– Nesting season is from March to July.
– Nests are sometimes parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
– Old nests are occasionally reused in subsequent years.
Nesting Habits of California Towhees
The California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) makes its home along the Pacific Coast. This species builds its nest on the ground or very close to it, concealed by surrounding vegetation.
Typical California Towhee nest placement:
– At the base of shrubs
– Under dense thickets
– Near logs or brush piles
– In rocky cavities or crevices
– Near the edges of woodland trails
– Under low-hanging vegetation
Their nest is a bulky cup made from grasses, leaves, bark strips, and feathers. The female constructs it alone over 3-6 days.
Ideal Habitat
California Towhees nest in areas with heavy brush and ground cover, such as:
– Chaparral
– Coastal sage scrub
– Overgrown clearcuts
– Brushy forest understories
– Tangles of riparian vegetation
– Overgrown vacant lots and fields
– Brushy urban parks and gardens
The dense vegetation conceals nests from predators and provides protection.
Other Nesting Facts
More California Towhee nesting information:
– They raise 2-3 broods per year, with 3-5 eggs per clutch.
– Only the female builds and incubates the nest.
– Nesting lasts from March through July.
– Nests are occasionally parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
– Old nests may be reused in subsequent years.
Similarities in Towhee Nest Site Selection
The different Towhee species exhibit many common nesting behaviors:
– All build open cup nests from available plant materials.
– The female alone constructs the nest.
– Nests are placed on or very near the ground.
– Nest sites offer concealment from surrounding vegetation.
– Prime habitat has an abundant shrub layer and dense ground cover.
– 2-3 broods are raised per breeding season.
– Nests are sometimes reused across years.
Their shared preference for low, concealed nest sites helps protect the vulnerability of ground nests. The availability of suitable dense vegetation is a key factor in Towhee nesting habitat suitability across species.
Differences in Nest Placement Between Species
While there are many commonalities, some variations in nest placement exist between the Towhee species:
Species | Typical Nest Placement |
---|---|
Eastern Towhee | On ground or within 3 feet off ground |
Spotted Towhee | On ground or very low in shrubs |
Canyon Towhee | On ground or low in shrubs and small trees |
Abert’s Towhee | On ground or low in shrubs and small trees |
California Towhee | On ground or very low in dense vegetation |
These variations reflect adaptations to the different habitats occupied by each species. For example, Canyon and Abert’s Towhees more readily use small desert trees and shrubs for nest sites, while Eastern Towhees strongly favor ground placement. But overall, all Towhees share a preference for well-concealed, low nest placement.
Threats to Towhee Nests
Ground nests face risks from predators and exposure. Some threats to Towhee nests include:
– Snakes – Garter snakes and other small snakes may raid ground nests for eggs.
– Rodents – Mice, chipmunks, and other rodents can disturb or destroy nests.
– Cowbirds – Brown-headed cowbirds sometimes lay eggs in Towhee nests.
– Larger birds – Jays, crows, and ravens may prey on nest contents.
– Domestic cats
– Loss of habitat – Activities like logging, grazing, and development can degrade and remove the dense vegetation Towhees need for nesting.
The concealed locations Towhees favor help protect against many predators. But ground nests are inherently vulnerable, and the availability of suitable habitat is critical to nesting success.
How to Support Towhee Nesting
Here are some tips for landowners and communities to support Towhee nesting:
– Preserve areas of native brush, thickets, and young forest. The dense ground cover provides ideal nesting habitat.
– Maintain hedgerows, fencerows, and powerline rights-of-way. These linear habitats offer excellent nesting if vegetation is allowed to grow thick.
– Keep riparian areas intact. River and stream corridors with abundant shrubs are heavily used by Towhees.
– Avoid excessive mowing. Allow some fields and vacant lots to become overgrown to mimic native scrubby habitats.
– Remove invasive species. Non-native plants can crowd out the diverse native flora Towhees favor.
– Limit pesticide use. Insects are an important food source for Towhees, especially during nesting.
– Keep cats indoors. Domestic cats are a significant predator of ground-nesting birds.
– Reduce forest fragmentation. Large contiguous woodlands support healthier Towhee populations than fragmented forests.
By supporting habitats that provide dense cover, property owners can create areas favorable for Towhees to safely raise their young.
Conclusion
In summary, Towhees across North America preferentially build nests on or very close to the ground, concealed by surrounding vegetation. The availability of suitable habitat with a thick shrub layer and dense ground cover is a key factor allowing Towhees to safely nest and breed. Although an inherent challenge for ground-nesting birds, their cryptic nest placement and preference for dense cover help reduce risks. Supporting habitats that contain abundant brush and thickets can help provide the ideal nesting conditions Towhees seek. Ensuring Towhees have access to appropriate nesting habitat contributes to the continuation of these iconic songbirds.