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Townsend's Solitaire were encountered singing during the breeding season in three squares in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Although the species has nested there previously, only five observations were made and breeding was not confirmed during the atlas. The species does not appear to have expanded its breeding range beyond the Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan.

Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:

Unlike other frugivores such as the Bohemian Waxwing, which forages in large flocks and moves from one area to the next, the Townsend's Solitaire is true to its name and most frequently feeds alone staking out territory around a good food supply. This species breeds in the western mountains from Alaska to Arizona and descends to lower elevation in fall, wintering from southern western Canada to northern Mexico.

During spring, fall, and winter the species is most frequently seen in native or planted shrubbery or woodland, especially areas with fruiting trees and shrubs. In Saskatchewan it has nested only in the Cypress Hills. Elsewhere it nests on steeply sloping ground, often under an overhang which provides protection and concealment (Bowen 1997).

Formerly regarded as a rare wanderer to Saskatchewan (Godfrey 1966), the species is now a full-fledged member of our avifauna. The increase is probably due to the increase in observers and to the widespread planting of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs which provide a larger, more stable food source. It is now an uncommon spring and fall migrant and rare winter resident throughout the southern portion of the province north to Waskesiu Lake and Creighton. It is a very rare summer resident in the Cypress Hills where it has nested.

Original text by Alan R. Smith. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky

Read more about the Townsend's Solitaire in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.

LeeAnn M. Latremouille

Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Townsend's Solitaire in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=TOSO&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]