Notes from the field
October 02, 2018
How long do towhees live?
Our female towhee is one amazing old bird!
By Neil Gifford, Conservation Director
This female Eastern towhee, recaptured by our science staff on October 2, was originally banded during Lupine Fest in the Karner Barrens East section of the preserve as an adult in May 2012. That means she is at least 8 years and 4 months old (hatched June 2010). According to the USGS Bird Banding Lab, the North American record is a 9-yr, 11-month old towhee recaptured in 1946. So while not a record, our female towhee is one amazing old bird!
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