California Thrasher

Toxostoma redivivum

Photograph by corvidophil
Los Angeles County, California, February 2005

Identification

32cm

• Dark brown upperparts
• Paler grey-brown underparts
• Finely streaked face
• Buff throat patch
• Long tail
• Reddish-brown undertail coverts
• Dark iris
• Very long black, decurved bill
• Grey-brown legs and feet
  

Sexes similar

Distribution

Northern California south to northern Baja California.

Taxonomy

Subspecies^[1]

This is a polytypic species consisting of two subspecies:

• T. r. sonomae:

• Chaparral belt of northern California (south to Monterey)

• T. r. redivivum:

• Chaparral belt of southern California and north-western Baja

A third subspecies pasadenensis is generally considered invalid^[4].

Habitat

Chaparral, Riparian, foothills mixed woods and dense shrubs. Creeks and lake shores. Also residential areas.

Behaviour

Actions

Runs on the ground with tail cocked. Inconspicuous except when singing.

Diet

The diet includes beetles, spiders, bugs and fruits.

Breeding

Both sexes build the nest which is hidden dense vegetation. The eggs are incubated for 14 days; the young fledge 14-17 days later.

Vocalisation

Song consists of vigorous phrases variously repeated, delivered in a continuous sequence with brief pauses between successive sequences. Females also sing and may pairs may counter-sing. Calls include a low harsh chuck and a loud throaty quip.

Movements

Resident with limited dispersal of young.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Cody, M. L. (2020). California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.calthr.01
3. Cody, M. (2020). California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/58209 on 3 April 2020).
4. Avibase
5. Whatbird.com
6. Audubon Field Guide

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) California Thrasher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/California_Thrasher

External Links

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