This well-known ground-dwelling bird is black above on the male and brown on the female, including the entire head and upper breast. On both sexes the upperparts are spotted with white on the wings and the long tail. It has rufous sides and a white belly.

It frequents brushy areas and is common at bird feeders wherever seed is scattered on the ground, but does not feed far from cover. The varied song usually has one to three parts.

The Spotted towhee breeds statewide and winters primarily west of the Cascades and in small numbers in lowland areas east of the Cascades.

Hear the song of the Spotted towhee

Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp