When trying to identify a bird that is brown with black spots, there are a few likely candidates that match this description. The opening paragraphs will provide a quick overview of some birds that are brown and spotted, before diving into more details later in the article.
Quick Answer
Some birds that are brown with black spots include:
- Ruffed Grouse
- Female Mallard Duck
- Female Gadwall
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow
- Spotted Towhee
Of these options, the Ruffed Grouse and Spotted Towhee are probably the best matches for being described as brown with black spots. The grouse and towhee both have brown plumage covered with distinct black spots over much of their bodies. The other birds may show some spotting but do not have such an overt spotted pattern over their predominantly brown feathers.
Identifying the Ruffed Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a very likely candidate for a brown bird with black spots. These grouse are found throughout forested areas of North America. They are a medium-sized bird measuring 16-19 inches long with a stocky body, short tail, and feathered legs. The most distinctive feature of the Ruffed Grouse is the ruff or ruffs of feathers around its neck for which it is named. These ruffs can be raised or lowered as part of the grouse’s mating displays.
In terms of coloration, Ruffed Grouse have feathers that are variable shades of brown and gray over most of their bodies. The lower breast and belly feathers are generally a lighter buff color. The most obvious marking on these birds are the black spots spread over their breast, flanks, back, and wings. These spots form irregular barred patterns, varying in intensity between individuals. The spots help provide camouflage as the grouse blend into the forest surroundings.
Male and female Ruffed Grouse appear very similar in their spotted brown plumage. Juvenile birds also look alike when they hatch with a downy, spotted appearance. By two weeks old, the chicks have developed adult-like coloration but are more grayish brown overall with some barring on the underparts.
Ruffed Grouse Habitat
Ruffed Grouse make their homes in deciduous and mixed forests across North America. They prefer areas with dense undergrowth and thickets that provide cover and food. These forests may include aspens, birches, oaks, beeches, and conifers at times. Ruffed Grouse are found from Alaska across Canada and the northern United States. Their range extends further south along forested mountain chains. They are absent from more open plains and arid desert regions.
Diet and Behavior
Ruffed Grouse spend most of their time on the ground where they walk or burst into short, rapid flights. Their diet consists mainly of plant matter including buds, leaves, fruits, seeds, nuts, acorns, and berries. They may also eat some insects when available. In winter they rely more heavily on tree buds and twigs.
These grouse are generally solitary birds that come together during the breeding season. The male performs a drumming display by rapidly beating its wings to attract a mate. Nests are made on the ground hidden by vegetation. The female Ruffed Grouse incubates a clutch of around 12 eggs for 21-24 days until they hatch.
The Spotted Towhee
The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) is another bird with brown plumage marked by conspicuous black spots. They are medium-sized sparrows found widely across central and western North America. Their total length ranges from 8 to 9.5 inches. Towhees reside in brushy habitats including forest edges, thickets, and overgrown fields. They spend most of their time hopping around on the ground rummaging through leaf litter with both feet to uncover food.
Description
The Spotted Towhee has a brown back, wings, and upper tail with rufous color on the sides and belly. The throat and breast are white. As their name suggests, the most obvious feature of Spotted Towhees is the black dotting on the upperparts and wings. The black spots are actually more like large blotches sometimes fused together rather than distinct round dots. The male and female Spotted Towhee are colored alike.
Juvenile birds resemble the adults but are paler brown overall with buff spotting on the back. The young towhees molt into their adult plumage after a couple months. In the fall and winter months, the towhees’ appearance can become duller and browner looking but the black spotting remains.
Behavior
Spotted Towhees typically stay hidden in dense shrubs and thickets. They hop around in the leaf litter flipping over debris to find food. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and insects. Towhees occasionally come out from cover to fly up into low branches or onto fence posts to sing their loud, buzzing call.
These birds breed in the springtime building nests low in bushes or on the ground. The female incubates 3-5 eggs for about two weeks. Both parents feed the nestlings. Spotted Towhees may raise more than one brood per year. They are solitary in the winter but may gather in small flocks after breeding season. A number of subspecies show slight variations in size, shade, and spotting pattern across the towhee’s widespread range.
Other Brown Spotted Birds
While the Ruffed Grouse and Spotted Towhee are probably the prime examples of brown birds with black spots, there are a few other species that may match this description as well:
Female Mallard Duck
Female Mallard ducks have mottled brown plumage with some black spotting on the body and wings. The male Mallard is more distinctly colored with a glossy green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and black rear. Female Mallards are smaller and colored in earthy browns to provide camouflage while incubating eggs in an open nest. Both sexes have a blue wing patch lined with white borders that can be seen in flight or while preening.
Female Gadwall
The female Gadwall is patterned in shades of brown with a fair amount of black mottling on the body and wings. The male has a gray body with black markings. Gadwalls are fairly common dabbling ducks found on lakes and marshes across North America. Female birds make nests on the ground near the water’s edge and raise young with their cryptic brown plumage.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is an introduced species in parts of North America. They are common in their original Eurasian range. These small birds have reddish-brown upperparts and gray breasts. Their back feathers have a dark central streak creating a subtle spotted look. They also have a chestnut patch behind the ear with a black spot in the center.
Brown Thrashers
Brown Thrashers exhibit spotting as juveniles before molting into plainer brown plumage. Young Brown Thrashers are covered in brown and white spots that help camouflage them in the dense thickets where they grow up. Adults are uniformly brown on the back with a lighter brown breast and belly with faint streaking.
While other birds may show some spotting or mottling, the Ruffed Grouse and Spotted Towhee best match the description of being brown overall with obvious black spots across their plumage. They provide two examples of birds that use this cryptic coloration pattern to blend into their forest and thicket environments.
Spotted Bird Identification Tips
When trying to identify a spotted brown bird, here are some tips that can help distinguish the species:
- Note the bird’s size and shape: Is it close to sparrow sized, small like a chickadee, or larger like a grouse? Does it have a finch’s conical bill or a thrush’s speckled breast?
- Observe behavior: Is it hopping along the ground or perched atop a tree? Quick flight or leisurely glide? Climbing tree trunks nuthatch-style?
- Listen for calls: Many birds can be identified by sound such as the Ruffed Grouse’s drumming or the Spotted Towhee’s “drink-your-teaaaa” song.
- Check range maps: Consider which spotted or mottled brown species are found in your location.
- Note plumage details: Markings like cheek patches, eye rings, wing bars and other distinctive patterns can aide ID.
- Use field guides: Consult guides that illustrate plumage details and include bird descriptions to confirm an identification.
Armed with some patience and a good pair of binoculars, a spotted brown bird can usually be identified with careful observation of its size, shape, sounds, behaviors, and fine details of its plumage markings.
Spotted Birds Table
| Bird | Description | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Ruffed Grouse | Grayish brown body with black spotting. Lighter buff underparts with barring. Medium-sized with short fan-shaped tail. Ruff of dark feathers on neck. Reddish eye comb. | Extensive spotting on body and wings. Ruffs on side of neck. Seen walking slowly on forest floor. |
| Spotted Towhee | Brown back with black spotting. Rufous sides with white belly. Short conical beak. Sparrow-like but terrestrial. 8-9.5 inches long. | Black spotting on brown back. Rusty flanks. Often heard moving and calling in leaf litter. |
| Female Mallard | Mottled brown overall with some black spotting. Blue wing patch with white borders. Orange bill. Quacking duck found near water. | Mottling provides camouflage while nesting in open areas near water. |
Conclusion
In summary, the two birds that are likely being referred to when described as brown with black spots are the Ruffed Grouse and Spotted Towhee. The grouse exhibits extensive black spotting across its grayish brown plumage that provides camouflage in the forest understory. Spotted Towhees also show conspicuous black spots on their brown backs and wing feathers. Other birds may display some degree of mottling orspotting when seen up close but do not have such overt spotting across their predominantly brown feathers. Factors like size and shape, behavior, vocalizations, range, and fine plumage details can help distinguish between potential spotted brown bird candidates when making an identification.
