Fauna
Bird

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Townsend's warblers spend most of their breeding season high in the canopies of mature northwestern conifer forests, gleaning insects and spiders from needle tips. Males sing a rapid, rising series of buzzy notes to defend territories, occasionally hybridizing with Hermit Warblers where their ranges meet in the Cascade Mountains. During migration and winter, they shift to coastal woodlands and mountain highlands, frequently joining energetic mixed-species feeding flocks.

MigratoryInsectivoreSongbird
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCaterpillars, Spiders, Beetles
Predators
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Cooper's Hawk
  • Steller's Jay
ThreatsDeforestation of breeding grounds, winter habitat loss, and climate shifts
HabitatsMature conifer forests, mixed woodlands, and mountain slopes
Life spanUp to 9 years in the wild
  1. FamilyParulidae
  2. SpeciesSetophaga townsendi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Scan the uppermost branches of tall firs and spruces using binoculars, watching for rapid darting movements among the needles.
  • Sound ID: Listen for a sharp, rising series of buzzy notes that accelerates toward the end, typically delivered from hidden canopy perches.
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