any of several large, ground-feeding, North American sparrows (family Emberizidae); esp., the rufous-sided towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) with a chestnut patch on each flank and, usually, red irises
See towhee in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(tōˈhē, tō-hēˈ)
noun
A North American bird (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) that ranges from southern Canada to Mexico and has black, white, and rust-colored plumage in the male. Also called chewink, ground robin.
Any of several finches of the genera Pipilo or Chlorura, found in the western United States.