Eastern Towhees in Illinois
When eastern towhees are present in Illinois, when they nest, which native Illinois plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Illinois
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
When to expect eastern towhees in Illinois
Eastern Towhees are summer residents in Illinois, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, caterpillars and spiders.
Humid continental, grading from the Lake Michigan shore and prairie north to the forested Shawnee Hills in the south.
Nesting in Illinois
Across Illinois, 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.
Hot, humid summers; much of the state is farmland, so backyard native plantings matter.
- 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 Illinois plants that attract eastern towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Illinois, 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 Illinois year
Towhees 'double-scratch' in leaf litter. Leave leaves under shrubs rather than raking them.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Hulled sunflower.
- In Illinois's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for eastern towhees · Best feeder for eastern towhees
Frequently asked
Are eastern towhees in Illinois year-round?
No. Eastern Towhees are summer breeders in Illinois and leave for the winter.
When do eastern towhees nest in Illinois?
Nesting in Illinois 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 Illinois?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Illinois that provide food or cover for eastern towhees.
Eastern Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Illinois
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 — Illinois
- 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.