Episode Number
5
Episode Show Notes / Description
Learn the song and call of the Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus).
A flash of black and white in a low brush pile is likely to be this robin-sized sparrow, and if you see a pair arresting dark red eyes peeking out from that dense tangle, you’ll know for sure. This bird has rufous sides and a white belly; features that stand out on otherwise dark plumage. Males display this dark plumage as a deep black, while females express it as an earthy brown. Be sure to remember to “drink your tea!”
Do you want to learn more bird songs, frog calls, and insect noises? Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild voice. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy program.
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The following Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode:
ML509431 and ML509435 by Wil Hershberger
Transcript
This is Illinois Extension’s Voice of the Wild. Our birdsong will start in five seconds, so find someplace quiet, take a deep breath, and enjoy.
A flash of black and white in a low brush pile is likely to be this robin-sized sparrow, and if you see a pair arresting dark red eyes peeking out from that dense tangle, you’ll know for sure. This bird has rufous sides and a white belly; features that stand out on otherwise dark plumage. Males display this dark plumage as a deep black, while females express it as an earthy brown.
This is the Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus from the family of new world sparrows, Passerellidae. The pneumonic that accompanies the towhee’s song is among the best. So as we listen again, just remember; “drink your tea.”
Thank you to the Macaulay library at the Cornell lab of Ornithology for our bird sounds. And thank you for tuning in to learn a new bird call with Illinois Extension.
A flash of black and white in a low brush pile is likely to be this robin-sized sparrow, and if you see a pair arresting dark red eyes peeking out from that dense tangle, you’ll know for sure. This bird has rufous sides and a white belly; features that stand out on otherwise dark plumage. Males display this dark plumage as a deep black, while females express it as an earthy brown.
This is the Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus from the family of new world sparrows, Passerellidae. The pneumonic that accompanies the towhee’s song is among the best. So as we listen again, just remember; “drink your tea.”
Thank you to the Macaulay library at the Cornell lab of Ornithology for our bird sounds. And thank you for tuning in to learn a new bird call with Illinois Extension.