Townsend's Solitaire
Myadestes townsendi
Sleek songbird, a bit smaller than robin and much slimmer. Overall plain medium-gray with short bill, rather long tail, white eyering, and buff patches in wings. Note upright posture and white eyering. Found at higher elevations in the breeding season. Drops into lowlands in the winter. Loves juniper. Song is complex; call is a single, ringing, bell-like note.
Identification
Townsend's solitaire reaches a length of approximately 8–9.5 inches (20–24 centimetres) and wingspan of 14.5 inches (37 cm); it weighs approximately 1.2 oz (34 g). It has a short, thick, blackish bill; a white eye ring; and gray plumage with a buffy wing stripe and edges of the flight feathers. The tail is long, tapered when shut, and edged with white. Juveniles are mottled gray and white.<p>It perches in a rather upright position, often high on a branch and often staying still for a long time.<p>Though it has some similarities to the northern mockingbird, particularly as to the tail, its dark underparts, shape, size, and behavior are not similar.<p>It feeds primarily on berries and insects. The solitaire is amongst the most specialized of all North American birds since its diet in winter consists almost entirely of the fleshy cones of the juniper bush, and the solitary birds form territories around productive juniper patches which they strongly defend <p>Its song consists of loud, melodious flute-like rising and falling phrases with "low, husky notes interspersed but no distinct pattern" and "a slightly mechanical quality." The call is a squeaky eeek or "clear, soft whistle heeh".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myadestes townsendi
- Authority
- (Audubon, 1838)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Myadestes
Range and habitat
This solitaire ranges from southern Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta to northern Zacatecas in Mexico, preferring montane woodlands. During winter, it may move in search of food to lower elevations, including the Great Plains, northern interior Mexico, and even desert oases.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown-breasted Gerygone
Gerygone ruficollis
A small bird of montane forest edge and villages. Whitish underparts, dark brown back, warmer brown on the head, extending to the sides of the chest. Note the broken white eye-ring and white band in the outer tail feathers. Forages very actively in small groups, twitching its tail. Co-occurs with the similar Gray Thornbill and their vocalizations are also similar, but Brown-backed Gerygone is distinctly brown rather than gray. Song, a series 5 or more slurred notes of the same pitch, descending slightly each time. Call, an excited chatter.
Gray-green Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus purpuratus
An unmistakable dove with a bright silver head, neck, and chest, dark green wings, a light green belly, and a yellowish tint to the forehead. Bill is bright banana yellow. Unique within its range. Call is a typical dove-like cooing, starting with “wooo wooo” followed by sounds likened to a taunting laughter.
Thamnornis
Thamnornis chloropetoides
Odd, warbler-like, long-tailed and long-billed tetraka. Madagascar endemic that is the only tetraka regularly found in spiny forest. Mostly skulks in the understory, but will sing from an open perch at the top of a tree. Song is a sputtering trill that is sometimes followed by a series of lower “chup” notes. Larger, longer-tailed, and longer-billed than jeries. More greenish than Subdesert Brush Warbler, with white tips to the tail, and without fuzzy breast streaks.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.