Rufous-Sided Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
Birders are known for being sticklers for accuracy—the classification (or taxonomy) of towhees has been a subject of considerable debate. The Rufous-sided, the Spotted, and the Eastern Towhee have been grouped together and then separated several times over the past decade or two. Regardless of their taxonomy, we can enjoy this bird's song, which the male sings while looking for a mate. And they tend to sing their mating call a lot, since they generally raise at least two broods of young a year. They're promiscuous and often interbreed with other towhee species, which just adds fuel to the whole taxonomy debate.
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