For the nesting season males become bolder and may be seen singing in the braches instead of normally scratching leaf litter under dense thickets
These Rufous-Sided or Eastern Towhees were photographed at Fearrington village Camden Park in Pittsboro, North Carolina
Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Rufous Sided Towhee
The male Rufous-Sided Towhee has a black chest, head, and back with rufous sides and a white belly. The female is similar to the male except for being brown where the male is black. It has a white streaked pattern in the wings and tail. It is smaller and more slender than a Robin. It has a red eye. It has a range in the eastern half of the United States. It has a habitat in open woods, undergrowth, and bushy edges. It is a secretive bird that is found industrially scratching in the leaf litter under dense thickets. It feeds mostly on insects, seeds, and berries.
Photos of Birds by Common Name by Sid Hamm 