Townsend's Warbler, Setophaga townsendi


Townsend's Warbler
The gorgeous Townsend's Warbler is a regular winterer in central California, more common along the immediate coast, where this bird was photographed, than inland, where I live. Males, as above, have the complete black-and-yellow "tiger striped" look, while females, as below, an Arizona bird, are gray where males are black, and lack the dark throat. Both sexes have an olive-colored mantle.


Townsend's Warbler


Townsend's Warbler
A male on the nesting grounds, in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley northeast of Anchorage, Alaska. Townsend's Warblers nest in Alaska, western Canada, and the northwestern United States.


Townsend's Warbler
In the winter of 2007, we were privileged to have the Townsend's male above as a
regular in our yard. He lacked the normal feathering at the base of his bill; my
guess is that these feathers were pulled out as he fed on insects in gummy eucalyptus
trees in our neighborhood.


Townsend's Warbler
Above, an Arizona male to match the female further up the page.


Townsend's Warbler
The incomplete black throat patch marks this bird as a first-winter male.


Townsend's Warbler
Apart from the lengthy stay by the male shown up the page in the winter of 2007, most winters we have a few individual and always welcome visits to our back yard by Townsend's Warblers, like the female above at our fountain. Below, for the rest of the page, female Townsend's foraging and eating.
 


Townsend's Warbler


Townsend's Warbler


Townsend's Warbler
Above and below, two female Townsend's feeding on winter persimmons in
the Santa Cruz mountains. The bird shown below has relatively dark facial
markings for a female, but is identified as such by the absence of a dark throat
patch.


Townsend's Warbler