General

Bendire's Thrasher: Medium-sized thrasher with olive-brown upperparts and spotted buff underparts. Bill is short, gray and only slightly decurved with pale pink lower mandible base. Eyes are yellow-orange. Tail is long, olive-brown above, black with white tips below, and has brown undertail coverts. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Bendire's Thrasher: Breeds in southeastern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, and western and central New Mexico south to central Sonora. Spends winters in northwestern Mexico. Preferred habitats include semi-desert and desert areas, with large shrubs or cacti and open ground, and open woodlands with scattered shrubs and trees.

Breeding and Nesting

Bendire's Thrasher: Three to five brown-marked, green to gray green eggs are laid in a cup nest made of sticks and lined with leaves, grass, pieces of fabric, rootlets, and other fine materials. Nest is built 3 to 5 feet above the ground in a shrub, small tree, or cactus. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Bendire's Thrasher: Eats primarily insects but also takes some fruits; forages on the ground.

Vocalization

Bendire's Thrasher: Song is a pleasant warbling mix of phrases, repeated one to three times. Call is a low, coarse "chek" or "chek-chek."

Similar Species

Bendire's Thrasher: Curve-billed Thrasher is larger and bulkier, with larger bill, brighter orange eyes, and different call.