Eastern Towhees in Minnesota
When eastern towhees are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect eastern towhees in Minnesota
Eastern Towhees are summer residents in Minnesota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, caterpillars and spiders.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, eastern towhees typically nest from June–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 short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Eastern Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red-osier dogwood, serviceberry, eastern red cedar for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Minnesota plants that attract eastern towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover eastern towhees use:
White fruit and red-stemmed winter cover.
Early-summer fruit.
Nectar and seed.
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.
Feeding eastern towhees through the Minnesota year
Towhees 'double-scratch' in leaf litter. Leave leaves under shrubs rather than raking them.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Hulled sunflower.
- In Minnesota'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 Minnesota year-round?
No. Eastern Towhees are summer breeders in Minnesota and leave for the winter.
When do eastern towhees nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs June–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.
What native plants attract eastern towhees in Minnesota?
Red-osier dogwood, Serviceberry, Wild bergamot, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for eastern towhees.
Eastern Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
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 — Minnesota
- 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.