Thrushes and Allies
Myadestes townsendi
The Townsend's Solitaire is an elegant, medium-sized thrush of western North America, often found perched upright in trees. Its generally gray plumage is subtly accented by buffy wing patches and a distinct white eye-ring. Though a thrush, its foraging behavior can resemble that of a flycatcher, darting out from a perch to catch insects.
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
Overall smooth gray, slightly darker above, with a white eye-ring.
Dark wingtips accented with cream, and buffy wing patches visible when perched or in flight.
Long and tapered, with white outer tail feathers.
Mottled gray and white with a prominent eye-ring, though wing pattern is less obvious than adults.
02 / A place in the world
Breeds in montane coniferous forests, preferring open woodlands with sparse shrub layers and steep banks for nesting. In winter, it moves to lower elevations, including juniper woodlands, desert oases, and even suburban gardens.
Found from southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta south through the western United States to northern Zacatecas in Mexico. It is a resident in much of its breeding range, with some populations moving to lower elevations in winter.
Primarily a short-distance migrant, with many individuals moving from higher breeding elevations to lower wintering grounds. Some populations are year-round residents. Winter movements can extend into the Great Plains and northern interior Mexico.
03 / Listen a little closer
The song is a sweet, jumbling, and melodious warbling of clear whistles and musical trills, often delivered from a high perch. It also has a persistent ringing call.
04 / The life behind the feathers
During the breeding season, its diet consists mainly of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, ants, and spiders. In winter, it switches to a diet predominantly of berries and small fruits, especially juniper berries.
Forages by sallying out from a perch to catch flying insects (flycatching), pouncing on ground prey, or hovering to glean food from foliage. In winter, it consumes large quantities of berries.
Nests are typically open cups of twigs, grass, pine needles, and bark strips, lined with finer grass. They are usually placed on the ground in a protected spot, such as a shallow depression in a dirt bank, a crevice in a cliff, or under a log or roots.
Often solitary, defending territories year-round, particularly around winter food sources. Males sing from high perches to defend territory and attract mates. They may form small flocks during migration.
05 / An eye for the difference
Townsend's Solitaire is more uniformly gray, has a white eye-ring, and buffy wing patches, while the Northern Mockingbird is paler below with bold white wing flashes.
Mountain Bluebirds are typically blue (males) or duller blue-gray (females), lacking the distinct white eye-ring and buffy wing markings of the solitaire.
Hermit Thrushes have reddish tails contrasting with browner backs, and often have spotted underparts, unlike the uniformly gray solitaire.
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.