Spotted Towhees in British Columbia
When spotted towhees are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.
- Status in British Columbia
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
When to expect spotted towhees in British Columbia
Spotted Towhees live in British Columbia all year. Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds and acorns.
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in British Columbia
Across British Columbia, spotted towhees typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup on or near the ground. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 10–12 days.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
- Spotted Towhees don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, paper birch, pin cherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native British Columbia plants that attract spotted towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover spotted towhees use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Feeding spotted towhees through the British Columbia year
Scratches noisily under shrubs — leaf litter is prime habitat.
- Best foods: Millet, Sunflower chips.
- In British Columbia's winter: Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.
Full diet breakdown for spotted towhees · Best feeder for spotted towhees
Frequently asked
Are spotted towhees in British Columbia year-round?
Yes. Spotted Towhees are year-round residents in British Columbia.
When do spotted towhees nest in British Columbia?
Nesting in British Columbia typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract spotted towhees in British Columbia?
Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Paper birch, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for spotted towhees.
Spotted Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in British Columbia
Sources
- Spotted Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Spotted Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Spotted Towhee — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.