This is bird node.

Whether you live in the east or the west, you may have seen towees.

They're among the most widespread and familiar birds in North America.

Both birds, the eastern towee and the spotted towee of the west, sport a black or dark brown hood and back, and when they fly, their tails flash white.

When a hawk gives chase, the toe's flashing tail feathers draw the predator's attention.

Momentarily distracted, the hawk may miss seeing the towe's flashing tail feathers draw the predator's attention. Momentarily distracted,

the hawk may miss seeing the toy's darkly colored head and back. As a result, the vital head and breast of the toi remain protected. The hawk may come up with just a couple of tail feathers,

as the toy escapes into the underbrush. So, if you see a towee missing a couple of tail feathers as the toey escapes into the underbrush.

So if you see a towing missing a couple of tail feathers, it may be that the flash of white,

the distractive plumage, saved its life. Toeys can be easy to see because they spend most of their time near the ground.

This makes them easier for kids to spot. easy to see because they spend most of their time near the ground.

This makes them easier for kids to spot, and it makes for a fun expedition to go looking for a towey and its flashing tail.

Watch for a black and orange bird, a little smaller than a robin, scuffling in the leaves.

To see photos of the towee, come tobirdnote.org.

I'm Michael Stein.