Bird of the Week: CLXX
Curve-billed Thrasher — Toxostoma curvirostre
- ORDER: Passeriformes
- FAMILY: Mimidae
I call the Curve-billed Thrasher the bully bird of our backyard. With their curved strong beaks, they often intimidate other birds and take over the bird feeder. Once in the feeder, the Curve-billed Thrasher uses his beak to thrash back and forth through the birdseed. Most of it lands on the ground where our quail gladly gather.
Without our bird feeder, the Curve-billed Thrasher uses its beak to endlessly overturn ground in a sweeping motion foraging for insects, spiders and other food. This is similar to how they approach the bird feeder. They also eat the fruits and seeds of saguaro, prickly pear, and cholla.
Curve-billed Thrashers live in the desert Southwest of the United States and Mexico.
Map from All About Birds.
A Curve-billed Thrasher perching on a pink flamingo.
Measurements (both sexes):
Length: 10.6-11.0 in (27-28 cm)
Weight: 2.1-3.3 oz (60.8-93.6 g)
Wingspan: 13.4-13.6 in (34-34.5 cm)
They have strong legs, a curved beak, long tail and bright yellow orange eyes. The Curve-billed Thrashers in our Sonoran Desert are gray, but further south in Texas and Mexico they have lighter chests and are often speckled.
Curve-billed Thrashers mate for life and defend their territories that are five to 11 acres of desert land. They build nests in cholla or prickly pear cactus where the spikes protect them.
Call: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Curve-billed_Thrasher/sounds
💕 I forgot to tell you. I saw a cardinal in our local park the other day!!
How cool!
The do look rather fierce when they want to. Any bird that hangs about in cacti has to be tough. They have a lovely call
They do have a beautiful call. You’d think it wouldn’t be so pretty.
The calls that some birds send out sometimes make you wonder. It works from both ends as well Not so pretty birds with a glorious call or pretty birds that make a horrid sound. Swans honking is one
I haven’t thought of that before, but it’s true.
The Bully Bird!
Definitely!
I always thought a curved-bill was a type of mail that I spindle and then throw in the trash can.
Ha! 😅
He looks like bird with a serious don’t mess with me attitude.
😉
That’s him!
I was just outside in the garden. We had a heavy rain last night, again! Yay, and I listened to a few birds trilling. Trilling, calling out songs while the little pug sat in the sun. Nice photos. You could easily be part of the Audubon Group.
Thank you! That sounds like a beautiful morning.
It is. I am also getting a few things done like paring down my wardrobe which is hard and doing a few house cleaning things. I have the house to myself as the husband is out shopping for a watch band. I have to confess sometimes I like being alone, like a kid in a candy store!
I have many clothes I don’t need in retirement like 9 pairs of black pants. Ah, ha.
I need to do the same thing. But I feel like lately all I’m doing is driving my husband to PT and doctor’s appointments.
Mike needs a wrist band because he has lost so much weight but right he is holding steady at 155. Wow, and he just keeps eating. It is something to do with not absorbing the food but they are working on it, the docs. Yeah, I understand. When you have surgery of knee or hip, you can’t drive for 5 weeks or so. Wishing you the best. I need to try on 3 more things and then get rid of 3 more items for 10!
watch band, his daughter gave him a beautiful watch but he needs it resized.
I’m glad your husband’s weight is holding. You’re correct, my husband won’t be driving for a few weeks yet. We had travel plans for the Fourth of July, but I think we’ll need to postpone so that he can continue healing and going to PT.
I kid that Mike has the perfect diet but we are happy, yes he is gaining. I think 9 items, just in case I need that red blouse with the cuffs, one day. Better when I am trying on clothes, I am alone. Enjoy your day!
I agree that doing a chore like going through clothes is best done alone.
And the home projects are getting done! I hadn’t realized how important they were to me. I like a neat space and clean.
Yay!
They really are the neighborhood bully, but it’s fascinating to see them rooting around for food.
Usually it is a mammal which is the bully of the backyard. If it outdoes a squirrel, then this bird must be aggressive!
We have tiny squirrels and they run away from the Curve-billed Thrasher. He waves his beak around and pounds it into the ground in a threatening manner.
Oh my goodness…what an intimidating little bird! I Iove how you’ve captured the texture of the feathers…something about that gives the “rough and tumble, don’t mess with me” vibe! 😜💝😜
He’s a tough bird. You should watch him wave that sharp, curved beak at the other birds to scare them away. Then he pounds it into the ground! I’m reading your book can’t put it down!
Yes! I forgot to mention that, too! The beak…wow, wow, wow. It looks like it could do some damage. Yikes! 😜
And woohoo! You’re reading! I love it…and I’m honored. You know that, right? Sending hugs…hope you and hubby are having a great day. 💝💝💝
Thanks! I am having a good day without a trip to a doctor’s office or PT. I’m enjoying my afternoon reading “Slivers.”💕
It’s good to have a “stay home day” for sure. And I’m thrilled you’re reading….
xo! 💝
Yes! I’ll be giving you a review soon! 🤗
Thank you! You’re a major confidence booster for me — wish you could pop in for the book launch tomorrow night! ❤️😉❤️
Oh my goodness! How fun would that be. If I wasn’t taking care of my husband post knee replacement, I could have done it. Maybe for your next book release — fiction or non fiction. I love your location and would love to see it in person, plus meet you. I haven’t been to Chicago for 30 years. My best friends who live in Santa Barbara lived in Valparaiso, IN for a couple years. We flew out to visit them when my son was two and they took me to Chicago for a tour plus Amish country.
We need to make this happen! You’d be very welcome, my friend! Xo!!!!😘
💕💕💕
Nature’s colors at their finest. This is such a soothing perspective.💯
I’m glad you enjoyed it.