Townsend's Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

20 cm (8") Uncommon. Western North America. Coniferous forests on high mountain slopes; in winter wooded canyons, valleys or wherever it can obtain juniper berries. A thrush that normally lives along the west coast. A rare winter visitor to the east.

Gray overall with a white eye ring. Buff wing patch. White outer tail feathers conspicuous in flight.

Song: loud and long warbles.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Calgary, Alberta, CA - February 12, 2012

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Grotto Canyon near Canmore Alberta, CA - January 8, 2012

Credit: Shawn McCready

North Roosevelt Trap, Roosevelt Co., NM - October 10, 2008

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Townsend's Solitaire 2

Credit: David Marvin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Townsend's Solitaire

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:708-townsends-solitaire:1:1 Source: 708 Townsend's Solitaire, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 5

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:708-townsends-solitaire:2:1 Source: 708 Townsend's Solitaire, row 2

Townsend's Solitaire (Immature)

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 5

What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:709-townsends-solitaire-immature:1:1 Source: 709 Townsend's Solitaire (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 1

What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:709-townsends-solitaire-immature:2:1 Source: 709 Townsend's Solitaire (Immature), row 2