Sage Thrasher

The Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus, presents itself as a medium-sized passerine with a modest yet distinctive appearance. Its upperparts are cloaked in a pale grey-brown, while the underparts are adorned with white, contrasted by dark streaks. The bird's bill is slim and straight, not overly long, and its eyes are a striking yellow. The tail is notably long, though not quite as extensive as those of other thrashers.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Sage Thrasher, look for the following key characteristics:

• Length: 7.9-9.1 inches (20-23 cm)
• Weight: 1.4-1.8 ounces (40-50 g)
• Wingspan: 12.6 inches (32 cm)
• Pale grey-brown upperparts
• White underparts with dark streaks
• Slim, straight, and relatively short bill
• Yellow eyes
• Long tail

Habitat

The Sage Thrasher favors areas abundant with dense stands of sagebrush for its breeding habitat. On occasion, it may also be found in other shrubby locales, but sagebrush dominance is a strong preference.

Distribution

Breeding primarily in western North America, the Sage Thrasher's range extends from southern Canada down through to northern Arizona and New Mexico.

Behaviour

These birds are ground foragers, often seen rummaging through brushy areas in search of their next meal. They are migratory, retreating to the southern United States and Mexico, including the Baja Peninsula, during the winter months.

Song & Calls

The male Sage Thrasher is known for his melodious vocalizations, a series of warbled notes that serve to defend his nesting territory.

Breeding

During the breeding season, the female lays a clutch of 4 or 5 eggs in a twiggy cup nest, which is carefully constructed within a low bush. Both parents share the responsibility of incubating the eggs and feeding the fledglings.

Diet and Feeding

The Sage Thrasher's diet is primarily composed of insects during the summer months. However, as the seasons change and winter approaches, they supplement their diet with berries.

Conservation status

The Sage Thrasher is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, there is a note of caution: the bird has experienced declines in certain areas where sagebrush has been eradicated. It remains common in regions where its preferred habitat is intact, but the ongoing loss of sagebrush ecosystems in western North America is a growing concern for the conservation of this species and others that depend on the same habitat.