Eastern Towhees in New York
When eastern towhees are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect eastern towhees in New York
Eastern Towhees are summer residents in New York, 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, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, 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 summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Eastern Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, arrowwood viburnum, flowering dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native New York plants that attract eastern towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover eastern towhees use:
Winter fruit.
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Fall 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.
Feeding eastern towhees through the New York year
Towhees 'double-scratch' in leaf litter. Leave leaves under shrubs rather than raking them.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Hulled sunflower.
- In New York'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 New York year-round?
No. Eastern Towhees are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do eastern towhees nest in New York?
Nesting in New York 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 New York?
Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Black-eyed Susan, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for eastern towhees.
Eastern Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.