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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.
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TOWNSEND'S
SOLITAIRE
Myadestes townsendi
PASSERIFORMES
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Range
and Habitat
Breeds in mountains from Alaska to the Northwest Territories, and from
British Columbia to South Dakota, California, and central Mexico. Spends
winters from southern Canada southward, usually at lower elevations
in breeding range.
Also ranges eastward to Nebraska. 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.
SOUND: "tew", "eek", "whee"
The Townsend's
Solitaire is the only solitaire native to America north of Mexico. The
name of this bird commemorates the ornithologist John Kirk Townsend.
During the winter, the male and female are both strongly territorial,
defending patches of juniper trees against other solitaires and other
birds.
A group of thrushes are collectively known as a "hermitage"
and a "mutation" of thrushes.
The Townsend's Solitaire has a large range, estimated globally at 3,600,000
kilometers. Native to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this bird
prefers shrubland or forest ecosystems.
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