I don’t have as many photos of Spotted Towhees as I would like in my portfolio but I am hoping to change that since I now know where I can find them in what appears to be healthy numbers and next spring when the males are singing on their territories I am going to try harder to get them out in the open.
Juvenile Spotted Towhee – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This time of the year male and female Spotted Towhees have finished raising their broods and their young are learning how to be on their own but they do look a touch ragged as they molt into their adult plumage. Last week I had an opportunity to photograph a molting juvenile Spotted Towhee in the Wasatch Mountains and I was glad that it came out into the open so that I could photograph it.
Juvenile Spotted Towhee in molt – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I don’t have much experience with Spotted Towhee chicks, juveniles or when they are molting into adult plumage but I believe this is a young female because where the bird shows fresh plumage some of those areas are more gray-brown than they are black, black would indicate a young male. I could be wrong though, as I said earlier I don’t have much experience with them at this age.
Spotted Towhees are notorious for staying hidden as they scratch on the ground in thickets for their food so getting one out in the open is a real treat for me.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Spotted Towhee photos plus facts and information about this species.
A treat for you, and a treat for us. Thank you. And the Towhee.
She does look a little rough around the edges. These are great shots. The details you caught in the feet/tarsi is really interesting — I think I can even make out the flexor tendon in the second shot.