The best bird feeder and seed for towhees
Scratch in leaf litter with a two-footed hop. Leave leaf litter under shrubs near the feeder.
Which feeder types do towhees use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground tray | Millet, cracked corn | None | A low mesh tray a few inches off the ground keeps seed out of wet soil. |
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
Feeders towhees use, budget to premium
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
What seed do towhees like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| White proso millet | The best of the small grains, but also a favourite of non-native house sparrows and cowbirds. Offer it on a tray, not in a hanging feeder. | Keeps well |
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
| Cracked corn | Offer only what disappears in a day. Wet, mouldy corn is dangerous to birds. Also attracts house sparrows, blackbirds and geese. | Keep dry; wet corn grows aflatoxin mould |
Food to buy for towhees
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Where and when should you feed towhees?
- Height and spot: Ground level beside dense shrubs.
- When: Year round in much of the South and West.
- Range: Eastern towhee in the East, spotted towhee in the West.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, bluebirds and wrens, which use the same feeder types.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the towhees feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for towhees on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for towhees?
A ground tray is the most reliable choice for towhees. Scratch in leaf litter with a two-footed hop. Pair it with white proso millet, place it ground level beside dense shrubs, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a platform or tray feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do towhees eat at feeders?
In order of preference: white proso millet, black oil sunflower and cracked corn. The best of the small grains, but also a favourite of non-native house sparrows and cowbirds. Offer it on a tray, not in a hanging feeder. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for towhees?
Ground level beside dense shrubs. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so towhees can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do towhees come to feeders?
Year round in much of the South and West. Range: Eastern towhee in the East, spotted towhee in the West. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season towhees are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do towhees use birdhouses?
No. Towhees build open nests in shrubs, trees or on the ground and do not use enclosed nest boxes. Dense native shrubs, brush piles and leaving leaf litter in place do far more for them than any structure.