Each spring, I look forward to spotting migrating birds passing through, and hopefully stopping in for a bit at my feeders.
A couple of days ago, this handsome guy showed up under the feeders.
A strikingly marked, oversized sparrow, the Eastern Towhee.
Eastern Towhees are birds of the undergrowth, spend most of their time on the ground, and usually nest on the ground. Only 1 percent breed in Canada.
They eat seeds, fruits, ragweed, grasses, acorns, insects, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and snails, as well as soft leaf and flower buds in spring.
The Towhee will spend the spring and summer in our area, but will nest and live in the forest, so I was lucky to have him drop by the yard.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And of course, where there are seeds, there are also MANY...
squirrels (Rafe, Black Squirrel)
sharing with...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What a beautiful bird! I don't think I have seen one of them before. Pretty little squirrel, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, a beautiful bird indeed and I have never seen one before either! Wonderful capture as always, Karen!! And of course, you know I love the black squirrel -- I've never seen one before!!! Hope your week is off to a lovely start! Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous shots.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat your visitors are. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new bird!
ReplyDeleteSuper photos, he is have a royal feast there, and a new squirrel, do they visit all year round? Cheers, Jean
ReplyDeleteDearest Karen;
ReplyDeleteWow;your Eastern Towhee is GORGEOUS sparrow looking at your camera(^_^)v Love the black squirrel also enjoying your feast; I smiled seeing he/his mouth also looking at you♪
Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Beautiful bird with such lovely bright colors. The squirrel is cute but I don't think it would do too well in my yard!
ReplyDeleteespecially liking that Towhee Karen!!!
ReplyDeleteI always love the photos of the squirrels for their lovely poses. And you got a different color there. We don't have them here, so i found them so lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling like rubbing the nose clean.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I love the beautiful Towhee! Their colors are gorgeous.. I saw a Black Squirrel this weekend, usually they are all gray! Great shot, have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you Karen today I learned something. I first I thought Robin but my mind knew it was different. If you hadn't left the name I would gone crazy trying to figure it out it was a Eastern Towhee. :-)
ReplyDeleteNice bird - I saw one in Az - pictures to follow!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Great pictures of the towhee, Karen. I am going for a walk this morning in an area where I have found them in the past, so maybe I'll get lucky.
ReplyDeletei have never seen a towhee in person! would love to! these are AWESOME shots, karen!
ReplyDeleteand i adore your cute little rafe!
Fun to see a new bird. Nice shots! And you got a great pic of the squirrel.
ReplyDeleteWow, that really is a beautiful bird, Karen.
ReplyDeleteVery much like a robin, but distinctively not.
Love Rafe too!
Wow! Now that is the kind of sparrow I would love to see.
ReplyDeleteThat bird is really special - gorgeous colours - beautiful shots - Jane UK
ReplyDeleteFantastic captures of the Easter Towhee! I have never been able to get close, even with my zoom. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThat bird is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteOh, lucky you to have such a handsome guest. The last one is cute, but you know how I feel about them.
ReplyDeleteYou got some great shots of your visitor.
ReplyDeleteI would have been so excited to see this towhee -- not many unusual birds at the feeders yet. xo
ReplyDeleteGreat sighting. I haven't seen one yet. Nice shots too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Towhee! I have never seen a black squirrel. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteOh I've never seen one of these Towhee's before Karen. What a great siting and beautiful photos too.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen one either! You got great shots, Karen!
ReplyDeleteoh it's so exciting to have a new visitor!!
ReplyDeleteyou got some great captures!!
Great shots of the towhees and squirrels. I have towhees year round where I live.
ReplyDeleteThe towhee is gorgeous and who can resist a cute squirrel.
ReplyDeleteYou got some beautiful shots of the towhee! I was lucky to have one around for a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteCute little "nosy" squirrel. :)
A great post, well done!
ReplyDeleteThe Eastern Towhee is beautiful, its the way that give them. Love them.
ReplyDeletesweet little birds...and those pesky squirrels.
ReplyDeletehandsome bird and such a cute little squirrel :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures of the towhee and congrats on the lifer!. The western towhee was one of my favorite birds when we had our house in Oregon ... and we still see them sometimes at the Lake when we're there in the summer. I'm not sure what the differences between the Easter and western are -- I recognized yours as a towhee immediately...the eyes for sure are the same. I will go and look that up.!
ReplyDeletegreat pics of a striking and interesting bird!! always a bonus to get the unexpected and unusual ones isnt it. *S*
ReplyDeleteI love the great descriptions you provide about them all too, most informnative and very interesting!
Rafe looks very handsome all fluffed up, but the stuff on his nose reduces his cool factor *LOL*
are they migrating to New Zealand? The Godwits fly from Alaska to NZ.
ReplyDeleteStriking colour contrast on this gorgeous little feathered character. And so love the cheeky pose of your black squirrel.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird! Cute squirrel.
ReplyDeleteHI Karen Great bird and Squirrel shots.I have never seen a Black Squirrel.
ReplyDeleteDon't think I have seen the Towhee before- he's pretty. I've also never seen a black squirrel!
ReplyDeleteYou seem to live in a perfect spot for attracting migrating birds! I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteThese are great shots of the beautiful Towhee. I like the black squirrel too!
ReplyDeleteI share your excitement of new birds in the yard and what a cool one. You got some great photos of it Karen.. Love the squirrel...Michelle
ReplyDeleteSuch a handsome bird your towhee is Karen. How nice he stopped off at your feeder and the chance for those photographs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet bird and lovely photos. I don't see these too often, but they are very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteyes, he is handsome and he seem to know it. :) Great photographs as always. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots Karen..I don't think I've seen this one yet.
ReplyDeletehe is amazing
ReplyDeleteGreat take. He is a bit like our robin you think. The orange for sure.His puffy body.
ReplyDeleteoh I added you to follow and thank you for comment on my blog of fences.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute little guy. His red eyes really stand out. I don't have any new birds come by my birdfeeder, but I love to see all those "old standbys" there on a daily basis. Mickie ;)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! I've never seen a black squirrel before. We have only red and grey ones. Bonny
ReplyDeleteLovely images of a striking bird
ReplyDeleteBeautiful towhee! Our Florida towhees have yellow eyes. Spring migration here in South Florida is not very spectacular in our neighborhood-- most of the migrants either follow the coastlines or are blown to the west by the prevailing SE winds.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird the Eastern Towee is. It looks a lot like our Robin-chats here in Africa.
ReplyDelete