3036 "Eastern Towhee Thicket"

3036 "Eastern Towhee Thicket"
10 X 12 (inches) Oils on canvas.
Started at 10:30 am Friday, August 7th, 2026

My friend John Verburg provided an inspiring image of this Eastern Towhee. We enjoy quite a few of them at Singleton. 

Many details of the Eastern Towhee's natural history still remain poorly known. The towhee spends much of its time near or on the ground in dense habitats. Tough places for humans to watch them!

Socially, it is monogamous and territorial. The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, but both parents provide care and mob any predators. Like most of its sparrow and bunting relatives, the Eastern Towhee uses a distinctive two-footed scratching, moon-walking dance to displace loose litter on the ground and uncover hidden prey. This behaviour is especially important in winter, when nearly all of its food comes from the ground. During the breeding season, it also hunts for insects and fruit in woody vegetation above ground. 

I find the eyes on the towhee to be a challenge. They are large and located ever so slightly differently from other birds. This is another attempt to get it right!

My parents and grandparents made sure that we had access to field guides. As a kid, I spent a lot of feral time wandering the forests and pastures with the Golden Field Guides. I carried a wooden rifle that my Dad carved out of a 2 by 4 with an eye-screw as a peep sight. He even painted it. There was no fear in the woods in those days or even now.  The Birds of North America was a favourite, and I still refer to it today. 

Here are a few of the steps in trying to breathe life into this Eastern Towhee... Every painting is an interesting challenge and an opportunity to learn. 

I have painted Eastern Towhees before... please see

• #2245 "Eastern Towhee"; 
• #2950 "Eastern Towhee Sing On"; and
• #2969 "Male Towhee Sing Long" 

For this and much more art, click Fine Art America or go straight to Collections or the new Wet Paint Collection. Thank you so very much for reading, and stay well!

Warmest regards, and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick