The Spotted Towhee is a year round resident in the area. It is a large, brightly colored member of the sparrow family. Males have black upperparts and wings with white spots, rust-colored sides, and a white belly. Females look the same except that the black is replaced by gray or brown. Spotted Towhees are ground feeders and are known for hopping from one spot to another in the undercover. In fact, they are often first noticed by the sound of their scratching and rummaging in leaf litter.
For more information on this interesting bird, see its Featured Critter Guide.