From Opus

Photo by Glen Tepke
Location : Maricopa, Kern County, California.

Toxostoma lecontei

Includes: Vizcaino Thrasher

[edit] Identification

L. 9.25 in

• Long, decurved bill
• Dark eye
• Pale throat
• Grey-brown plumage
• Belly and undertail coverts brown
• Long dark tail
• Dark legs

Sexes similar

[edit] Distribution

Southern California, far southern Nevada, and Arizona to Baja California and nw Mexico.

[edit] Taxonomy

Polytypic. Consists of three subspecies:

• T. l. lecontei from sw US to Baja California and nw Mexico
• T. l. macmillanorum in central California
• T. l. arenicola in the Vizcaino Desert, central Baja California

Arenicola is sometimes regarded as full species, Vizcaino Thrasher. Macmillanorum considered part of arenicola by some authors. Macmillanorum and arenicola have slightly darker plumage than lecontei.

[edit] Habitat

Arid desert.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It builds a cup-like nest low to the ground in a dense shrub. Incubation lasts 14 to 20 days; young fledge 12 to 15 days after hatching. Double broods are common.

[edit] Diet

Includes seeds, insects, and small vertebrates; it will also take small bird eggs.

[edit] External Links