Week 48 – Townsend’s Solitaire

 

Townsend’s Solitaire on a Juniper branch. Photograph by Neil Paprocki.

The Townsend’s Solitaire is a member of the thrush family and is quite closely related to Robins and Bluebirds. They survive all winter almost exclusively on Juniper berries that can be found in great abundance throughout the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands of the Great Basin.

While these sparse woodlands are devoid of most other songbird species during the long winter months, Solitaire’s can be found fiercely defending areas rich in berries from other species such as American Robins and Cedar Waxwings. Not to mention from other hungry Solitaire’s.

A true bird of the Great Basin winter.

All of the previous 52-week blog photos can be found at the Wild Lens blog or on Flickr.