Are you looking for the easiest way to attract Towhees to your backyard? Well, if you are, then this article is perfect for you. Read on as I give you some tips on how to attract Towhee to your yard easily. You will see some really neat facts about the Towhee as well as some great places to find them.
The Towhee is an extremely common New World bird. There are 9 subspecies, all of which inhabit the warm, moist forests of North and South America.
Towhee species and the regions they occur in:
- California Towhee (Native to Western Oregon & California)
- Spotted Towhee (Occurs year-round in Oregon, California, Washington, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and British Columbia).
- Eastern Towhee (Occurs throughout Southeast Canada and Eastern United States).
- Abert’s Towhee ( Native to Colorado, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico)
- Green-tailed Towhee (Occurs in West and Southwestern United States as well as Mexico)
- Collared & White-throated Towhees (Endemic to Mexico)
- Rufous-sided Towhee (Occurs in the United States and Canada)
- Bermuda Towhee (Endemic to Bermuda)
Table of Contents
How to Attract Towhees
Shelter
Towhee relies on trees for shelter. Most birds nest in burrows in dense woods or tall shrubs and the birds often roost in large structures such as cottages or bird houses. Some of them will even visit parks and neighborhoods.
Because these birds spend a lot of time feeding, you’ll see them congregating around trees to rest during the day. They nest along the edge of the forested areas they frequent. They prefer dark-colored conifers such as cedar, juniper, and pinyon along the forest edges.
Nesting
Towhees have a tendency to build their nests at low spots where they will get plenty of cover. These places include trees and bushes which give them shelter from the weather. They can also be found nesting in other structures such as man made structures.
Foods that Attract Towhees
In the wild they love to eat different kinds of food, including insects such as ladybugs, grasshoppers, crickets, moths bees, wasps, beetles, caterpillars, seeds, chickweed, sumac, poison oak, chickweed, fruits, berries and acorns.
A simple way to get them to visit your backyard is to use either a platform tray or traditional tube style feeder. I find that the traditional style feeder is best because it requires less maintenance, and there is less chance of attracting unwanted guests. One product I would highly recommend is the Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder paired with this Gourmet birdseed. I found the best price for these products on Amazon.
Because these birds love to feed on the ground, the feeder should be placed no more than 5 feet high and provide them some shelter so it gives them some form of protection from predators.
Next you want till your feeders with a mixture of both white proso millet and, sunflower seed. Make sure if you use a tray feeder that it offers some kind of drainage to avoid spoilage. Another great method is to sprinkle the white proso millet on your lawn.
Use a Birdbath
One of the easiest ways to attract Towhee is by creating a birdbath. Birds have a need for water in order to survive. Therefore, you should put some kind of water source in your yard for your birds.
I would suggest getting a birdbath that is low to ground or ground level that it is not close to any trees or bushes.
Get a Birdhouse
While some species like to build their own houses, you should know that this is not as easy as it sounds. While the birds can build their own houses and set the structure for themselves, it is important to note that they cannot keep it on their own if the weather changes.
If you have decided to get birdhouse, it is important to take into consideration the weather conditions and the natural environment of the area where the house.
It is also important to plan the layout and color scheme of your house, especially if you are planning to place it on a perch or on the ground. You can also consider the birds’ normal routine when you create your house for them and decide on the best place for the structure.
Check Amazon before purchasing a birdhouse , and make sure that it is made of cedar wood. These birdhouses are weather resistant and ted to attract towhees easily.
Plant some Shrubs
Towhees are a type of bird that like to live in grassy areas. They are typically found near shrubs, trees, and bushes. If you want to attract them to your backyard, it would be best if you plant some shrubs. Some of their favorites include:
- Ragweed
- Mountain Ash
- Black Hawthorn
- Beach strawberry
- California Black Walnut
- Blueberry
- Oak
- Sumac
- Thistle
- Amaranth
- Currant
- Gooseberry
- Elderberry
- Flowering Crabapple
- Black Huckleberry
- Raspberry
- Chickweed
- Honeysuckle
- Barberry
- Cherry
- Blackberry
- Snowberry
