Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) is in the Thrushes family (Turdidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 8,889 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Townsend's Solitaire: observations by month (U.S.)
About Townsend's Solitaire
Townsend's solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) is a medium-sized thrush, the only solitaire native to America north of Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Townsend's Solitaire by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1,507 | October | Sep–Apr |
| California | 1,468 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Oregon | 877 | September | Mar–Jan |
| New Mexico | 866 | December | Sep–Apr |
| Arizona | 635 | March | Sep–Apr |
| Washington | 510 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 483 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Texas | 437 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Idaho | 367 | November | Sep–Apr |
| Montana | 307 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Nevada | 305 | October | Sep–Mar |
| Wyoming | 287 | July | Apr–Feb |
| South Dakota | 131 | June | Jun–Dec |
| Minnesota | 118 | January | Oct–Feb |
| Nebraska | 107 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Alaska | 66 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Michigan | 58 | January | Oct–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 54 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 39 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Illinois | 38 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 26 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 26 | November | Nov–Dec |
| New York | 21 | January | Dec–Feb |
| North Dakota | 18 | January | Sep–Feb |
| New Jersey | 17 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Kansas | 16 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Maine | 15 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Connecticut | 12 | November | Nov–Jan |
| Indiana | 11 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Delaware | 10 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Ohio | 9 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Iowa | 8 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Missouri | 8 | December | Dec–Jan |
| West Virginia | 6 | January | Jan–Jan |
| North Carolina | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
| South Carolina | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Thrushes)
American Robin
Eastern Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Wood Thrush
Varied Thrush
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Townsend's Solitaire?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to August.
Where is Townsend's Solitaire most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, California, Oregon.