The Eastern Towhee was formerly known as the eastern race of the Rufous-sided Towhee. The male has a black head and upperbody with bright orange-brown flanks and white underbelly Most towhees have red eyes, but one Florida race sports white eyes. Females have the same basic color pattern, except that the black is replaced by a rich chocolate brown. Conical bill and long tail with white outer tail feathers

The bird breeds throughout most of the eastern US and the far southeast of Canada. It withdraws from the northern portion of its range in winter and can be found as far south as Guatemala.

The preferred habitat is dry, dense, brushy areas, such as at forest edges, hedgerows, utility corridors, roadside shrubs, clearcuts, brushy hillsides, and overgrown pastures. Deciduous forests  with dense understories may by used also be used by Eastern Towhees.  Their numbers have shown dramatic declines in recent years.  This species may be affected by reductions in scrub and early successional habitats as many areas of abandoned farm land revert to more mature forest. More intensive farming with reductions in fence rows could also affect this species.  Agricultural fields without brush are avoided by towhees.

Wooded areas that are "unkempt' so towhees can take advantage of leaves and other undergrowth are favored for nesting and feeding. It is often seen as it rapidly hops backward, raking the leaves with its feet, like barnyard poultry,   to expose insects, spiders, seeds, and berries.

These bird nests in shrubs on or near the ground and lays 4 to 6 eggs, white or cream with light red-brown spots.  The nest is a loose cup of weeds, grass, and bark, hiding its eggs under the cover of leaves or surrounded by weeds and grass.

Length 7 - 9  inches