THRASHERS

Curve-billed Thrasher

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Toxostoma curvirostre

The Curve-billed Thrasher is a medium-sized mimid that is a member of the genus Toxostoma, native to the southwestern United States and much of Mexico. Referred to as the default desert bird, it is a non-migratory species.

The Curve-billed Thrasher is 10.6 inches long, having a wingspan of 13.4 inches and a weight of 85 grams.
They have grayish-brown body, with whitish mottled breast, white throat, and long and large tail with whitish corners.
Both sexes are similar and belong to the east species.
Eyes are orange. It has long, slender, down curved black bill. Legs and feet are blackish.
Immatures resemble adults, but the bill is shorter and straighter, and the eyes are rather yellow than orange.

CALL: A double whistle “whit-wheet”, sometimes with three notes.

SONG: Elaborate and melodic which includes low trills and warbles.

Eats mostly seeds and insects, such as beetles, ants, crickets and grasshoppers. It also consumes berries and cacti fruits. It frequents bird feeders where fruit is available.

Common in canyons and semi-arid bushlands, in open brushy woodlands, and around farms, ranches and towns.

A resident from southern Arizona to southwestern Colorado to the Texas coast, and southwards to southern Mexico.

Both the male and female build a loose open cup nest with twigs and rootlets may include thorny twigs. It is lined with twigs and grass. The female lays 1 - 5 pale blue-green eggs, spotted with pale brown. Incubation lasts about 12 - 15 days, by both parents, but mostly by the female.

SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.oiseaux-birds.com