Townsend's Solitaire

Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi, is a bird that frequents these parts all winter, but until this weekend I hadn't seen one since December.  But suddenly, on a still leafless mountain mahogany shrub, one made his appearance.

As the name might indicate, these birds are usually seen alone, if they are seen at all.  Their simple gray coloring and ability to remain very still on a perch cause many people to look right by them.  I usually hear them before seeing them, and then stare at them for awhile wondering what bird I am looking at, since there are no vibrant markings.  Solitaires actually have buffy stripes on their wings, but that, and their white eye ring, are hard to see from a distance.

This species eats mostly insects in the summer and fruits and berries in the winter.  They are especially fond of juniper berries and will protect their territory fiercely if it contains a nice clump of berry bushes.