Eastern Towhees in Michigan
When eastern towhees are present in Michigan, when they nest, which native Michigan plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–6b yard.
- Status in Michigan
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–6b
When to expect eastern towhees in Michigan
Eastern Towhees are summer residents in Michigan, 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, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.
Nesting in Michigan
Across Michigan, 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.
A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.
- Eastern Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Michigan plants that attract eastern towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Michigan, these 8 provide food or cover eastern towhees use:
Winter fruit.
Nectar and seed.
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.
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.
Feeding eastern towhees through the Michigan year
Towhees 'double-scratch' in leaf litter. Leave leaves under shrubs rather than raking them.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Hulled sunflower.
- In Michigan'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 Michigan year-round?
No. Eastern Towhees are summer breeders in Michigan and leave for the winter.
When do eastern towhees nest in Michigan?
Nesting in Michigan 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 Michigan?
Winterberry, Wild bergamot, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, Black cherry are native plants in Michigan that provide food or cover for eastern towhees.
Eastern Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Michigan
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 — Michigan
- 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.