Ned Hill sent in this picture of an unusual Spotted Towhee with the following quizzical comment:

"Here is a photo of the “Red-headed” Spotted Towhee that’s been coming into our feeders. Have you ever seen anything like this? Must be a new species formerly unknown to man (I wish). Or perhaps just a genetic aberration. Or perhaps this fellow just sleeps under a rusty Fawcett!"

Further explanation:

"We’ve claimed it as a new species: “Shannon’s Towhee.” Actually, my son Jonathan photographed the bird (using my camera) so he should get the credit. His wife, Shannon, has been watching it out on our patio for several weeks now. Although not officially a “birder”, she is quite observant. We just could not imagine what bird she was talking about—a red head but black back with white spots, red sides. She insisted it was like other Towhees she had seen. We were puzzled. That’s when Jonathan staked it out and finally got a picture. She was very right—an aberrant Spotted Towhee."    ~ Ned
  
  
Photo by Jonathan Hill