July 26, 2026

I happened to capture an image of a juvenile Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) a couple weeks ago. It, along with Mom and Dad were enjoying the birdbath which brings in many birds that I wouldn’t see otherwise.

This early stage of plumage is only kept for a few weeks after fledging. They then go through what is called a performative molt which happens in late summer. This is a replacement of most of their body feathers and some wing coverts, leaving them with an adult-like pattern their first winter.

Continuing through that first winter there is a replacement of primary coverts and the changing of their eye color from brown to their remarkable deep red. Around May of their first year they will have fully shifted into their total adult look.

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