Spotted Towhees in Nebraska
When spotted towhees are present in Nebraska, when they nest, which native Nebraska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–5b yard.
- Status in Nebraska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–5b
When to expect spotted towhees in Nebraska
Spotted Towhees are summer residents in Nebraska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles and caterpillars.
Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.
Nesting in Nebraska
Across Nebraska, spotted towhees typically nest from April–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.
Hot summers with thunderstorms.
- Spotted 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 Nebraska plants that attract spotted towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Nebraska, these 8 provide food or cover spotted 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.
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.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.
Feeding spotted towhees through the Nebraska year
Scratches noisily under shrubs — leaf litter is prime habitat.
- Best foods: Millet, Sunflower chips.
- In Nebraska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for spotted towhees · Best feeder for spotted towhees
Frequently asked
Are spotted towhees in Nebraska year-round?
No. Spotted Towhees are summer breeders in Nebraska and leave for the winter.
When do spotted towhees nest in Nebraska?
Nesting in Nebraska typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract spotted towhees in Nebraska?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry, Virginia creeper, Trumpet honeysuckle are native plants in Nebraska that provide food or cover for spotted towhees.
Spotted Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nebraska
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 — Nebraska
- 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.