This solitaire ranges from southern Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta to northern Zacatecas in Mexico, preferring montane woodlands.

During winter, it may move in search of food to lower elevations, including the Great Plains, northern interior Mexico, and even desert oases.

It has a short, thick, blackish bill; a white eye ring; and gray plumage with a buffy wing stripe and edges of the flight feathers.

[4] The solitaire is amongst the most specialized of all North American birds since its diet in winter consists almost entirely of the fleshy cones of the juniper bush, and the solitary birds form territories around productive juniper patches which they strongly defend [5] Its song consists of loud, melodious flute-like rising and falling phrases[4] with "low, husky notes interspersed but no distinct pattern"[2] and "a slightly mechanical quality.

[3] Townsend's solitaire usually lays three or four eggs that are grayish-white with brown dots or splotches concentrated at the larger end.