Eastern Towhee

The start of the South River Falls trail is at the back edge of the South River Falls picnic area, just a few miles north of where U.S. Route 33 crosses the Skyline Drive at Swift Run Gap. There is a small grassy area just to the left of the trail head, which is where I found this female Eastern Towhee rummaging around in the leaves for food. The female looks different than the male. Her head, back and upper breast are a chocolate brown color, but the male is black in those areas. It is also worth noting that the eye color of Eastern Towhees in Florida and southern Georgia are straw colored, and variable as far north as North Carolina. Across most of the range, however, the eye color is red, just like in this picture.