Birds Of Southern California

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)

A year round common species here in southern California, the California Thrasher can be easily determined by its long decurved bill. It forages on the ground by digging up leaves and dirt with its toes looking for food sources. The California Thrasher will use is bill to dig and pry further. When it perches its usually only a few feet high. Its flying pattern may look a bit clunky and the song of the California Thrasher is similiar to that of the Northern Mockingbird. Here's more from Wikipedia: The California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) is a large thrasher found primarily in chaparral habitat in California and Baja California. Similar to the Crissal and Le Conte's thrashers in habit, the California thrasher is the only species of Toxostoma throughout most of its limited range. Like most thrashers, it rarely flies in the open, preferring to keep hidden in dense brush. Therefore, while it is common throughout much of its range, it is rarely seen. At about 12 in (30 cm) and nearly 85 g (3.0 oz), the California thrasher is the largest species of mimid. It is generally brown, with buffy underparts and undertail (unlike the Crissal). It has a dark cheek pattern and eye-line, and unlike most thrashers, has dark eyes. The California thrasher eats insects and small invertebrates.