təˈ(h)wē, -ˈhē, ˈtōˌhē noun
also towhee bunting
( -s )
Etymology: towhee imitative
: any of numerous American finches (genera Pipilo and Chlorura ) ; especially : a common finch ( P. erythrophthalmus ) of eastern No. America having the male black, white, and rufous and the female with brown instead of black — called also chewink ; see california towhee , green-tailed towhee