towhee (English)

Where does "towhee" come from?

The word 'towhee' is an example of onomatopoeia, meaning it was coined to mimic the bird's distinct sound. It originated as an imitation of the unique call made by the eastern towhee, scientifically known as Pipilo erythrophthalmus. Over time, this descriptive vocal representation became the accepted common name for this specific group of birds.

Full etymology tree

• towhee (English), 'Any of several species of birds of the genera Pipilo and Melozone.'
  • contraction towhee (Onomatopoeia)

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris