Townsend’s Warbler
Setophaga townsendi
Townsend’s Warblers breed in forested lands with large coniferous trees on the Pacific northwestern coast and mountains of North America from Alaska south into Washington, Oregon and Idaho. They stretch their winter homes along the western coast of North America from Washington to northern Baja California (Mexico), and several inland locations from southeastern Arizona to Central America.
Their nests are shallow cups placed atop a branch in a conifer, built with grass and lined with moss. Sometimes females dismantle a newly constructed nest and move it to another tree. Observers don’t fully understand why they do this. Townsend’s Warblers will sometimes cross breed with their closely related cousins, the Hermit Warbler.
Today, researchers view the Townsend’s Warbler as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
When first I met the Magnolia Warbler in south Texas, I mistook it for the more familiar Townsend’s Warbler. On their respective breeding grounds, their ranges do not overlap. The Townsend’s Warbler keeps more to western North America, and the Magnolia to the east. By the time these birds get to northwestern Canada, they may both be present.
I sometimes see these birds at my Southern California home during migration, but to date my favorite encounters with this and several other warbler species have been atop Santa Rosa Mountain in southern Riverside County (California). The springs at the 7,500 foot level have provided me with lasting memories of meetings with many bird species.
27 Photos
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 13:42 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X9155-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Fall migrant bird on Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California USA 2004-08-25. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:25 15:31 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_9096TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Cut-out from an image captured at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California USA 2014-08-30. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 15:29 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: Cut_D3X9424-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Bathing fall migrant female at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California USA 2005-09-02. |
Date Taken: 2005:09:02 9:59 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/40 |
File Name: JCD0824TownsendsWarblerFem |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Bathing fall migrant female at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California USA 2005-09-02. |
Date Taken: 2005:09:02 9:59 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/40 |
File Name: JCD0823TownsendsWarblerFem |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 15:29 |
|
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X9424-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 14:03 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X9232-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: At "The Springs" on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 11:27 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X2558-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-imaging.com) |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 8:52 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X8627-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: At the 'Springs' on Santa Rosa Mountain. Elevation 7400' on southern Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:08:30 8:05 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/30 |
File Name: D3X8394-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly 'Quail Gardens'). Encinitas, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:12:08 13:36 |
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Location:
San Diego Botanical Garden |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X3813-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Fall migration at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-11. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 16:09 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 |
File Name: D3X2773-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Bathing fall migrant bird at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-11. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 15:13 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 |
File Name: D3X2719-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-imaging.com) |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Bathing fall migrant bird at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-11. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 15:08 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X2706-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: (Dendroica townsendi) Fall migration at the springs on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-11. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:11 11:42 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X2586-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: An early migrating bird at one of the "must see" locations in the Tijuana River Valley is The Bird and Butterfly Gardens. Numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:31 |
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Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_D5X8114-BirdButterflyGarden |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: An early migrating bird at one of the "must see" locations in the Tijuana River Valley is The Bird and Butterfly Gardens. Numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:30 |
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Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_D5X8066-BirdButterflyGarden |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: An early migrating bird at one of the "must see" locations in the Tijuana River Valley: The Bird and Butterfly Gardens. Numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:30 |
|
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_D5X8016-BirdButterflyGarden |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:12 17:41 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X3451-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: The Springs at Santa Rosa Mountain. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:12 17:42 |
|
Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X3452-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, south of Tucson Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:27 10:21 |
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Location:
Madera Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722529-TownsendsWarbler |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
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Description: I stopped at Cape Arago in 2017 during rainy weather, while southbound down the coast. Earlier, down the coast, I met an Orange-Crowned Warbler. Today it was a Townsend’s in the company of a mob of Yellow-Rumped Warblers. It would seem spring warbler migration is ramping up. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:29 13:09 |
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Location:
Cape Arago |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_8508666-CapeArago |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: I stopped at Cape Arago in 2017 during rainy weather, while southbound down the coast. Earlier, down the coast, I met an Orange-Crowned Warbler. Today it was a Townsend’s in the company of a mob of Yellow-Rumped Warblers. It would seem spring warbler migration is ramping up. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:29 13:09 |
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Location:
Cape Arago |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_8508663-CapeArago |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: This Townsend’s Warbler looked a mess with his face caked with sap, nectar, or other sticky substance. It took place at the southern reaches of Morro Bay. One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. During past visits to this lovely town, I’ve wandered the grounds of the Natural History Museum and found it both peaceful and birdy. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 10:15 |
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Location:
Museum of Natural History |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_8501204-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
|
Description: This Townsend’s Warbler looked a mess with his face caked with sap, nectar, or other sticky substance. It took place at the southern reaches of Morro Bay. One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. During past visits to this lovely town, I’ve wandered the grounds of the Natural History Museum and found it both peaceful and birdy. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 9:45 |
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Location:
Museum of Natural History |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_8501053-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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