A Pair Of Towhees

May 17, 2025

He came by just before lunch today. Splashing around in the birdbath to get those feathers clean. He had enough of the cleaning and went to a perch to shake off the water and get his feathers in order again. A male Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus).

Just a couple minutes later, she must have decided that the birdbath was empty. She came close to be sure, then with no more hesitation got in and started splashing around just like he had done. Then, like he did, she went to a tree branch, shook off the water, tidied up her feathers and flew off in the direction he had gone. A female Eastern Towhee.

I see the male Towhee from time to time but the female is unusual to see. Glad I got to see both of them today!

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Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

4 thoughts on “A Pair Of Towhees”

    1. Hi Bev! These Eastern Towhees are here year round, and it looks like you should have them during breeding season. These are the birds that say, “Drink your TEA!

      So very glad you read my posts!
      Bren

  2. I can’t hold back, MUST express my gratitude again for your extraordinary posts. I lived on Amicus a mile east of Kamud’s studio for a blessed decade (in PA now) and regret I never met you. Your work is an inspiration and a true balm for these difficult times.

    1. Hi Julie! Now we have met, at least via the Internet! How did you end up in Pennsylvania? That’s a special state for me, since I have deep roots there.
      ——Did you take yoga classes with Kumud? She is a real treasure!
      ——So very glad that you read my posts. Creating them everyday gives me great pleasure and comfort for (as you pointed out) these difficult times.
      ——Bren

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