Mystery Bird: female Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus

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[Mystery bird] female Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, photographed at Newton Hills State Park in South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Terry Sohl, 13 May 2009 [larger view]

Photo taken with Canon 20D, 400 5.6L.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

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Family Guy, S07E02 'I Dream of Jesus': Peter: Brian, can I see that paper for a sec? (Brian gives Peter the paper. Peter peruses the paper.) Peter: Huh... that's odd... I thought that would big news.

I'm calling that an adult female eastern towhee of the "red-eyed" race. That's based on the "warm brown above", the "white patch at base of primaries", and the red eye (per Sibley).

When did the name split happen? I know this bird as a female rufous-sided towhee. (wiki shows that the rufous-sided towhee was split into eastern(pictured above) and spotted varieties but doesn't say when this happened).

@DSC: According to the AOU Checklist (the standard that ornithologists and field guides usually adhere to), the split was made "official" in 1995.