Townsend's Solitaire

Townsend's Solitaire
Townsend's Solitaire
Townsend's Solitaire by Louis Agassiz Fuertes
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Myadestes
Species: M. townsendi
Binomial name
Myadestes townsendi
(Audubon, 1838)

Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) is a medium-sized thrush, the only solitaire native to America north of Mexico.

Contents

Range and habitat

This solitaire ranges from southern Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta south to northern Zacatecas, 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.[1][2][3]

Description

Townsend's Solitaire in Saskatchewan

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). 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.[1][2]

It perches in a rather upright position, often high on a branch[3] and often staying still for a long time.[2]

Though it has some similarities to the Northern Mockingbird,[3] particularly as to the tail,[1] its dark underparts, shape, size, and behavior are not similar.

It feeds primarily on berries and insects.[3] 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 [4]

Voice

Its song consists of loud, melodious flute-like rising and falling phrases[3] with "low, husky notes interspersed but no distinct pattern"[1] and "a slightly mechanical quality."[2] The call is a squeaky eeek[3] or "clear, soft whistle heeh"[1].

Nesting

The nest resembles that of other solitaires: a cup of fine plant material on or close to the ground.[2] Townsend's Solitaire usually lays 3–4 eggs that are grayish-white with brown dots or splotches concentrated at the larger end.[3]

Etymology

The name of this bird commemorates the ornithologist John Kirk Townsend.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Sibley, David (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf. p. 400. ISBN 0-679-45122-6. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Howell, Steve N. G.; Webb, Sophie (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press. p. 583. ISBN 0-19-854012-4. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi". eNature.com Nature Guides. 2005. http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0271. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
  4. ^ Bock, C. 1982. Factors influencing winter distribution and abundance of Townsend's Solitaire. Wilson Bulletin 94: 297-302

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Townsend`s solitaire — Taunsendo atsiskyrėlis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Myadestes townsendi angl. Townsend s solitaire vok. Townsendklarino, n rus. горный дрозд отшельник, m pranc. solitaire de Townsend, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • townsend's solitaire — ˈtau̇nzəndz noun Usage: usually capitalized T Etymology: after John Kirk Townsend died 1851 American ornithologist : a solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) of western No. America * * * a brownish, slender billed songbird, Myadestes townsendi, of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Townsend's solitaire — a brownish, slender billed songbird, Myadestes townsendi, of western North America. [1885 90, Amer.; named after John Kirk Townsend (1809 51), U.S. ornithologist] * * * …   Universalium

  • Townsend's solitaire — Town′send s sol′itaire [[t]ˈtaʊn zəndz[/t]] n. orn a gray, slender billed thrush, Myadestes townsendi, of W North America, with a white eye ring and buff colored wing patches • Etymology: 1885–90, amer.; after John Kirk Townsend (1809–51), U.S.… …   From formal English to slang

  • Townsend — is a surname of Yorkshire and Norfolk origin. In English its meaning is a topographic name indicating residence at the extremity of a city or burgh (from Middle English touun ‘village’, ‘hamlet’, ‘stead’ + ende ‘end’.) The name is first… …   Wikipedia

  • solitaire de Townsend — Taunsendo atsiskyrėlis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Myadestes townsendi angl. Townsend s solitaire vok. Townsendklarino, n rus. горный дрозд отшельник, m pranc. solitaire de Townsend, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Solitaire de townsend — Myadestes townsendi …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Solitaire Townsend — is a British businesswoman, focused on the application of marketing principles to the cause of sustainability and climate change solutions.She co founded Futerra Sustainability Communications in the late 1990s with Ed Gillespie after completing… …   Wikipedia

  • Solitaire de Townsend — Myadestes townsendi …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Townsend'ssolitaire — Town·send s solitaire (tounʹzəndz) n. A long tailed, short billed thrush (Myadestes townsendi) of western North America, living mostly in woody mountainous areas and noted for its clear, ringing song.   [After John KirkTownsend (1809 1851),… …   Universalium

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