Townsend Solitaire at Benicia, California
Townsend Solitaire at Flenicia, California
Townsend Solitaires (Myadestes townsendi) have not often been observed near Benicia, and therefore three observations of this species in the winter of 1938-1939 I deem of interest to record.
On December 26, 1938, five miles northeast of Benicia, I observed one feeding with Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) on toyon berries on a brushy hillside.
On March 5, 1939, in my yard in Benicia a cat caused some commotion among the birds. A Hermit Thrush and a Robin scolded, attracting a Solitaire which came down from a large pepper tree to within ten feet of me, eyeing the cat but making no utterance of any kind.
On March 9, 1939, what was probably this same individual was in my yard. It was interesting to note the similarity in the wing pattern of this bird to a Mockingbird in rather poor plumage. This individual was probably attracted to my yard by the abundance of pepper berries
Emerson A. Stoner
Benicia, California, March 22, 1939
