Toxostoma crissale
adult
The Crissal Thrasher is similar in appearance to both California and Le Conte’s thrashers, but its pale eye and habitat preferences help with identification. The sexes are similar, as are adults and juveniles. All birds have mostly unmarked gray-brown body plumage. The underparts are subtly paler than the upperparts, but the undertail is chestnut. The eye has a yellow iris, and the striking throat markings comprise a white throat, bordered by a black malar stripe and white “mustache” stripe.
The Crissal Thrasher is present year-round in its typically densely vegetated desert habitats. The presence of cover means this secretive bird is hard to see, except in early spring, when males sometimes sing from exposed perches. Feeding birds probe the ground with their long bills.
adult
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 11.5 in (29 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Scrubby desert habitats, often near washes and streams
STATUS Scarce resident
VOICE Song comprises musical whistles with some repetition of phrases or pairs of phrases. Call is a repeated cheedalee, cheedalee . . .
