Eastern Towhee

This striking black and rusty-orange bird, with his intense red eyes, is not a rare or exotic species from some far-off place. This male eastern towhee popped up out of the brambles at Cherokee Park, just a couple miles from home. I can often find them in our backyard, yet experience tells me that for many, this photo will be their first introduction to this bird. Perhaps that is not surprising for non-birders, but it happens to me too. Each year I find some new creature I have never seen before despite living near it my entire life. For me, this is one of the great joys of nature. Such discoveries are proof positive that our life experience is defined by what we pay attention to, and that there are little treasures everywhere if we only take time to look. So the next time you are hiking or walking in your local park, listen for the distinctive “tow-HEE!” calls, or the louder-than-expected chicken scratches of these birds turning over leaves as they forage in the thick brush. Take a moment to look more closely, and odds are you will find these birds hidden in plain sight.