Green-tailed Towhee in October
Where green-tailed towhees are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Green-tailed Towhee's year
October brings the year's great turnover. The last long-distance migrants depart, winter visitors arrive from the North, and sparrows flood back into brushy edges and feeder yards. The first hard frosts end the insect season across most of the continent.
For the Green-tailed Towhee specifically, October is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 12 states and provinces where green-tailed towhees occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where green-tailed towhees are in October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- winter visitor
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, green-tailed towhees are absent in the South, winter visitor 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 October
Green-tailed towhees are not nesting in October. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, green-tailed towhees put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in October
- Grass and forb seeds
Scratches under mountain shrubbery and visits ground feeding areas near dense cover, especially on migration.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
Full Green-tailed Towhee diet guide → · Best feeder for green-tailed towhees →
Watching green-tailed towhees this month
Green-tailed towhees are settled and predictable in October, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region green-tailed towhees are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Green-tailed Towhee month by month
Green-tailed Towhee by state
Frequently asked
Where are green-tailed towhees in October?
In October, green-tailed towhees are absent in the South, winter visitor across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do green-tailed towhees nest in October?
No — green-tailed towhees typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do green-tailed towhees eat in October?
Grass and forb seeds.
Sources
- Green-tailed Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Green-tailed Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Green-tailed 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.