Townsend, John Kirk (1809–1851) American naturalist, ornithologist and collector.

Named species:

C. montanus 1837 = Mountain Plover Charadrius montanus

Honorary English:

Townsend’s Oystercatcher = Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater

Townsend’s Surfbird = Surfbird Calidris virgata

Honorary scientific: 

H. townsendi Audubon 1838 = Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater

Aphriza townsendi Audubon 1839 = Surfbird Calidris virgata