The nest resembles that of other solitaires: a cup of fine plant material on or close to the ground. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Sometimes in hollow in dead snag a few feet above ground. Both parents feed nestlings. Photo: Howard Arndt/Audubon Photography Awards, Great Egret. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. Thrushes and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Turdidae). These wintering birds often give a soft bell-like callnote; in summer (and sometimes in winter as well) they give voice to a complex song of clear musical warblings. Young: Both parents feed nestlings. Details of incubation not well known; incubation period about 11 days. Perching birds show buffy wing-patches. Illustration © David Allen Sibley. Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Eastern bluebird. Male defends territory by singing, often from a high perch; sometimes sings in flight. Another Reason to Like Lyrebirds: They Move Tons of Dirt, Keeping Forests Healthy, Duck Stamp Artists Turn to Spent Shotgun Shells to Meet New Pro-Hunting Mandate, A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores, Three Ways You Can Do Bird Science From Your Couch, How Nature Journaling Can Make You a Better Birder, The McCown's Longspur Is No More, but the Debate Over Bird Names Continues. Their drab gray plumage gets a lift from subtly beautiful buffy wing patches and a white eyering. Now that is a lot of berries. Wilson Bulletin 94: 297-302, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Townsend%27s_solitaire&oldid=958054893, Native birds of the Western United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 May 2020, at 19:50. Nest locations include natural crevices, nooks, or hollows among riverbanks, slopes, or "[3] The call is a squeaky eeek[4] or "clear, soft whistle heeh". Mostly insects and berries. The nest contains 3 solitaire eggs and 2 Brown-headed Cowbird eggs. California thrasher. [2][3], It perches in a rather upright position, often high on a branch[4] and often staying still for a long time.[3]. Zoom in to see how this species’s current range will shift, expand, and contract under increased global temperatures. The Townsend’s Solitaire is an elegant, wide-eyed songbird of western-mountain forests. [2][3][4], Townsend's solitaire reaches a length of approximately 8–9.5 inches (20–24 cm) and wingspan of 14.5 in (37 cm); it weighs approximately 1.2 oz (34 g). Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Migrates relatively late in fall and early in spring, although odd individuals may be seen out of season. [4] 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 [5], Its song consists of loud, melodious flute-like rising and falling phrases[4] with "low, husky notes interspersed but no distinct pattern"[2] and "a slightly mechanical quality. Curve-billed thrasher. … Bendire's thrasher. Perhaps the easiest time to see them is during winter, when these birds are common around junipers loaded with berries. American robin. Townsend's solitaire usually lays three or four eggs that are grayish-white with brown dots or splotches concentrated at the larger end. Conifer forests in mountains, rocky cliffs; in winter, chaparral, pinyon-juniper, open woods, wooded streams. Whitish to pale blue, blotched with pale gray, overlaid with darker brown spots. They feed largely or even exclusively on the juniper's ripe, fleshy berries for the entire nonbreeding season. It is especially fond of nesting along cut banks. Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program. The Townsend's Solitaire sings throughout the fall and winter to set up and hold its winter territory. As the name suggests, they are usually seen alone. The nest is on the ground and under a ponderosa pine log. 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. Young probably leave the nest about 2 weeks after hatching. Learn more about how to create bird-friendly backyards at Habitat Network. During the winter, the male and female are both strongly territorial, defending patches of juniper trees against other solitaires and other birds. During winter, it may move in search of food to lower elevations, including the Great Plains, northern interior Mexico, and even desert oases. National Audubon Society Photo: Andrew Reding/Flickr (CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0). Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards, Adult. Lives of North American Birds. They switch from eating primarily insects to eating fruit, particularly juniper berries to survive the,! Patch listen for their persistent ringing call and start scanning the tree tops have eye-rings... Overhanging object that shelters the nest is a nondescript bird, soft whistle heeh '' on or to! Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae ) opportunities to help bird conservation 2 Brown-headed Cowbird eggs fleshy berries for entire... Winter well east of breeding range on Great Plains old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations California... Perch ; sometimes sings in flight semi-open woods and brush, especially junipers. 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