tags: Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] female Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, photographed at Newton Hills State Park in South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Terry Sohl, 13 May 2009 [larger view]
Photo taken with Canon 20D, 400 5.6L.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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I'm calling that an adult female eastern towhee of the "red-eyed" race. That's based on the "warm brown above", the "white patch at base of primaries", and the red eye (per Sibley).
http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/eastern_towhee_8.htm
I went to birds of S Dakota... this was the closest with photos showing...
That's definitely a female towhee. Brown above, cinnamon below, white breast
When did the name split happen? I know this bird as a female rufous-sided towhee. (wiki shows that the rufous-sided towhee was split into eastern(pictured above) and spotted varieties but doesn't say when this happened).
@DSC: According to the AOU Checklist (the standard that ornithologists and field guides usually adhere to), the split was made "official" in 1995.