Sage Thrasher

§ Quick facts

§ Encyclopedia

The sage thrasher is a medium-sized passerine bird in the family Mimidae. It is the only species in the genus Oreoscoptes and the smallest of the thrashers. It is found in the regions of western North America, breeding from the Great Basin to southern British Columbia, and migrates south to southern United States and northern Mexico for winter. Sage thrashers are commonly found in shrubsteppe habitat and are strongly associated with sagebrush for which it relies on for nesting.

Source: Wikipedia — Sage thrasher · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small grayish thrasher with crisp dark streaking below, two thin white wing bars, white tail corners, pale yellow eyes, and a fairly short straight bill.

Similar species. Other thrashers are larger and longer-billed; the Sage Thrasher's small size, streaked breast, and straight short bill resemble a large sparrow or small mockingbird.

Voice. A long, continuous, warbling song of melodic phrases; a soft 'chuck' call.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects, fruits, occasional small vertebrates.

Behavior. The smallest thrasher, a bird of western sagebrush flats; sings a long, rich, warbling song from shrub tops and runs along the ground between bushes.

§ Range

Western US sagebrush

§ Habitat

Sagebrush habitats

§ Threats

Sagebrush loss.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the sage thrasher is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support sagebrush conservation.

§ Further reading

• Wikipedia — Sage thrasher
• www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Oreoscoptes montanus
• IUCN Red List — search for Oreoscoptes montanus
• GBIF occurrence records
• Encyclopedia of Life — Oreoscoptes montanus

§ Sources cited

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
• National Audubon Society
• iNaturalist
• IUCN Red List