Id Help

[Scott Frye]

Shot this picture at Anclote Gulf park -- about 30 miles north of St. Pete in Florida. My bird books show very few black-billed birds with yellow eyes. Also note the white bands on the tail. My first thought is some kind of Grackle -- but the bird's colors match nothing in my books. He is also a very strong singer

[James Prudente]

Eastern Towhee. Used to be called Rufous-sided Towhee in the old days.:) Appears to be the White-eyed variant that is found in the southeast.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

When I saw one of these in FL, I was surprised about the eye color at first before figuring out that some of these towhees have light eyes.

[Scott Frye]

Thanks for your help on identifying this towhee -- the eye was the puzzler for me