Evening star., 1948-10-11
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,peH
Chevy Chase, D. c.

CneVy CnaSe, II. Z.
Dear Sir:
The other morning near the bird BATH
with the regular robins although I did not
see it either drink or bathe), was what
first thought to be very small robin.
ut was much smaller than the regular
robins. neat and trim. tailored in appearance
without the full round breast.
Il had no glass but from the window It
looked as though it had black back and hood
the hood extending over the head around the
neck and down rather far on the breast, end
ing in kind of broken shading of white into
rusty red below, something like the robin but
very bright in color.
turning over with its feet the fallen leaves.
seeming to find bugs and worms.
THE large robins left, and 1t was there for
several minutes. but I looked away for
moment and it was gone
Il would say 1t was about the size of
large sparrow. perhaps longer and slim.
Gould the bird have been the orchard
oriole, towhee or chewink, or perhaps hooded
warbler? Or could 1t be Just an unusual
robin? Anyway, it was beautiful both in color
and shape. Sincerely, B. L."
This Is the towhee, one of our best
The towhee or chewink is 8 inches long
as compared with the 10 inches of the robin
Towhee is sometimes called ground robin
or swamp robin or even marsh robin
Other common names are jo-ree bush bird
anc turkey sparrow.
The two best known in this vicinity are
toWhee and chewink, but In recent years the
preference has inclined in favor of the former
Whatever you call him, and however you
pronounce it, the towhee is q beauty.
He is particularly likely to appear in SUBJ
urban gardens at this time OF the year. and
will remain all winter If treated right
This correct treatment means putting up
a feeding station on a stake near a back
dining room window.
location.
This gives the homeowner a chance to erect
another feeding station. He should keep the
old one or ones where they are but If he has
no window feeder, this Is the time to put one
up. when he sees the chewink.
Usually the male bird stays. He seems to
chase the other birds away but not very far;
they will be found on the ground beneath, eat
ing up what Mr. Towhee knocks out.
He is really not q pugnacious bird. His
threats against the other birds are always mere
rushes, in order to get the sparrows and others
of the tray
The towhee likes feeding station with three
sides open to the wind.
This means tray with sides about two
inches high, with four posts at the corner, sup
porting peaked roof.
The feeder hopper is at the rear and feeds
into the tray.
This outfit, on a stake, or attached to the VIM
dow. makes the perfect towhee feeding station.
He Is a great kicker through leaves using
its feet alternately like an old hen.
Seeds and insects are his principal food.
So it is good bird to have around. Despite
its preference for swampy places. it evidently
does not miss such sites when 1t comes to
home garden in winter.
This is a bird that repays the closest study,
not only because of its clean outlines and colors,
but also for It's CHEEKY habits in the cold.
That scratching in the leaves alone Is worth
seeing, on a cold day, but even more cheering
Is the birds fall song. clear outpouring that
is difficult to locate, because the creature pos
sesses the powers of .ventriloquist.
The nest is placed in deep woods. or first
growth clearings. 1t is sunk to ground level,
and made of leaves and grass, lined with small
roots There usually are four eggs, white or
pale pink sprinkled with chestnut
This nest is favorite for the cowbird to
drop her eggs into, sometimes as many as five
or six The cowbird egg is smaller, and usually
lacks the pink tint.
1t Is an odd fact of nature that the towhee
cheerfully brings up cowbird babies to the
number of four, but deserts the nest If the
mother cowbird puts five or six eggs into 1t,
which serves the mother cowbird right, most
people will think.