Le Conte's Thrasher

Le Conte's Thrasher, adult; Kern Co., CA; February

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

An uncommon resident of the deserts of the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico, the Le Conte's Thrasher inhabits some of the most desolate environments on the continent.

Description

• Large, long-tailed songbird.
• Pale sandy gray all over.
• Long, down-curved bill.
• Dark tail.
• Pale reddish undertail.

• Size: 24-28 cm (9-11 in)
• Weight: 55-76 g (1.94-2.68 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Song is a long series of warbled, variable phrases, with many slurred notes. Call two-noted, with second higher in pitch.

Conservation Status

In some parts of its range, the Le Conte's Thrasher has lost extensive habitat to development. Irrigated lawns, groves, and fields are not compatible with its need for desert vegetation.

Other Names

Moqueur de Le Conte (French)
Cuitlacoche pálido, Cuitlacoche de Le Conte (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Water may be present in the desert habitat of the Le Conte's Thrasher for only a few days each year, and even then the bird rarely drinks it. It gets its water from the insect food it eats.

Sources used to construct this page:

Sheppard, J. M. 1996. Le Conte's Thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei). In The Birds of North America, No. 230 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.