Spotted Towhee

Description:

Deep black heads that reaches to the chest. White center from chest to belly. Rusty color on the sides from the black to the bottom. Wings are black with barred spots. Close relative and seen sometimes with the California Towhee. Body shape is similar and that they can be heard kicking up leaf litter, that is where it changes. California Towhees are more in the open and quiet, where as the Spotted is elusive and comes out when alerted or in breeding season. Shy as they can be right in front of you in the blackberry brambles and you couldn't see them until they move. They can be more noisy with it's chatter.

Habitat:

Found these in Blackberry brambles, thick ground cover, cattail, reeds and in debris of open forests..

Notes:

Spotted along a trail near a lake