Eastern Towhees in Connecticut
When eastern towhees are present in Connecticut, when they nest, which native Connecticut plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7b yard.
- Status in Connecticut
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7b
When to expect eastern towhees in Connecticut
Eastern Towhees live in Connecticut all year. Snowy winters with regular nor'easters; feeders carry chickadees, titmice and juncos through January and February. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward ragweed seed, acorns and berries.
Humid continental with maritime moderation along Long Island Sound.
Nesting in Connecticut
Across Connecticut, eastern towhees typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup on or near the ground under shrubs. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 12–13 days, and young leave the nest after 10–12 days.
Warm, humid summers; peak nesting runs May through July.
- Eastern Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Connecticut plants that attract eastern towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Connecticut, these 8 provide food or cover eastern towhees use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Feeding eastern towhees through the Connecticut year
Towhees 'double-scratch' in leaf litter. Leave leaves under shrubs rather than raking them.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Hulled sunflower.
- In Connecticut's winter: Snowy winters with regular nor'easters; feeders carry chickadees, titmice and juncos through January and February.
Full diet breakdown for eastern towhees · Best feeder for eastern towhees
Frequently asked
Are eastern towhees in Connecticut year-round?
Yes. Eastern Towhees are year-round residents in Connecticut.
When do eastern towhees nest in Connecticut?
Nesting in Connecticut typically runs May–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.
What native plants attract eastern towhees in Connecticut?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Connecticut that provide food or cover for eastern towhees.
Eastern Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Connecticut
Sources
- Eastern Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Towhee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Connecticut
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.