Eastern Towhee in June
Where eastern towhees are in June, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
June in the Eastern Towhee's year
June is the height of the nesting season. Most resident and migrant species are raising young, migration is essentially over, and bird activity peaks at dawn. By late June the first fledglings of the year are everywhere — clumsy, loud, and constantly begging.
For the Eastern Towhee specifically, June is a summer month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 34 states and provinces where eastern towhees occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where eastern towhees are in June
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In June, eastern towhees are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in June
June is inside the Eastern Towhee nesting season. Nest: cup on or near the ground under shrubs. Clutch 2–6 eggs, incubation 12–13 days, 2–3 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in June
- Beetles, caterpillars and spiders
Towhees 'double-scratch' in leaf litter. Leave leaves under shrubs rather than raking them.
Expect to see adults carrying food away rather than eating it — they're feeding nestlings. Fledglings visiting feeders with their parents are a June highlight.
Full Eastern Towhee diet guide → · Best feeder for eastern towhees →
Watching eastern towhees this month
In June, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region eastern towhees are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Eastern Towhee month by month
Eastern Towhee by state
Frequently asked
Where are eastern towhees in June?
In June, eastern towhees are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do eastern towhees nest in June?
Yes — June falls inside the Eastern Towhee nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do eastern towhees eat in June?
Beetles, caterpillars and spiders.
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
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.