General
Townsend's Warbler: Small warbler with black-spotted, olive green upperparts and black throat and upper breast. Lower breast and sides are yellow with heavy black streaks, and belly is white. Head has bright yellow face, black crown and cheek patch, and white crescent below eye. Wings are dark with two white bars. Tail has thick white edges and dark center and tip. Female and juvenile are duller with yellow throats and black-spotted, yellow upper breasts.
Range and Habitat
Townsend's Warbler: Breeds from Alaska and British Columbia to northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Spends winters from southwestern California southward. Preferred habitats include coniferous forests, especially old stands of Douglas firs.
Breeding and Nesting
Townsend's Warbler: Three to five white eggs, with small brown spots, are laid in a well-concealed shallow cup nest, usually in a conifer. Eggs are incubated for 12 days by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Townsend's Warbler: Diet consists of insects and spiders; forages by gleaning prey from clumps of leaves while perched or hovering; occasionally catches flying insects in mid-air.
Readily Eats
Sugar Water, Fruit, Nut Pieces
Vocalization
Townsend's Warbler: Song is a high, wheezy "zwee zwee zwee zwee sweezit", rising in pitch then dropping at the end, although the pattern is quite variable.
Similar Species
Townsend's Warbler: Black-throated Green Warbler has yellow cheeks and face without dark ear patches. Hermit Warbler lacks black cheeks and crown.