towhee

 
Pronunciation: /ˈtəʊ(h)iː, ˈtaʊ-/

noun

  • a North American songbird of the bunting family, typically with brownish plumage but sometimes black and rufous.
    • Genus Pipilo (and Chlorurus), family Emberizidae (subfamily Emberizinae): several species

Origin:

mid 18th century: imitative of the call of Pipilo erythrophthalmus