Eastern towhees (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), formerly known as rufous sided towhees, are another really beautiful, vibrantly colored Floridian bird. I don’t get to see them nearly as often as the northern cardinals because they tend to be really shy. One thing that will definitely bring them out of the underbrush, though, is food. They don’t generally visit feeders, although I do have some luck with them eating mealworms. This time of year, though, there are plenty of insects in the brush, so mealworms aren’t much of a temptation, either. As an aside, it is actually really entertaining watching them scratch and jump around in the leaf litter as they hunt insects. However, fruits, and especially berries, will get their attention and get them out of the scrub, even now. This handsome male was checking out the pokeberries earlier today when I captured this shot. As you can see, the berries are still very green, so he didn’t sample any of them, but as they ripen, I’m sure he will be back.