Townsend's Solitaire

Overview

Townsend's Solitaire: Small thrush, gray overall and slightly darker above. Eye-ring is thin and white. The wings have pale rust-brown patches and black flight feathers. Outer tail feathers are white. Perches upright and remains still for long periods of time and is easily overlooked.

Range and Habitat

Townsend's Solitaire: Breeds in mountains from Alaska to the Northwest Territories, from British Columbia to South Dakota, California, and central Mexico. Winters from southern Canada southward. In summer, frequents montane coniferous forests around 3,000 feet below the timberline; in winter, descends to canyons with open juniper forests on lower slopes.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Townsend's Solitaire is the only solitaire native to America north of Mexico.
During the winter, the male and female are both strongly territorial, defending patches of juniper trees against other solitaires and other birds.
The name of this bird commemorates the ornithologist John Kirk Townsend.
A group of thrushes are collectively known as a "hermitage" and a "mutation" of thrushes.