[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Mimidae | [latin] Toxostoma lecontei | [UK] Le Contes Thrasher | [FR] Moqueur de Leconte | [DE] Wusten-Spottdrossel | [ES] Cuitlacoche palido | [NL] Woestijnspotlijster
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Ramphocinclus | lecontei | ||||
| Toxostoma | lecontei | NA, MA | sw USA, nw Mexico | ||
| Toxostoma | lecontei | arenicola | |||
| Toxostoma | lecontei | lecontei | |||
| Toxostoma | lecontei | macmillanorum |
Physical charateristics
A very pale thrasher of the desert, with a darker tail. The eyes are dark.
| wingspan min.: | 30 | cm | wingspan max.: | 33 | cm |
| size min.: | 24 | cm | size max.: | 28 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 14 | days | incubation max.: | 20 | days |
| fledging min.: | 12 | days | fledging max.: | 15 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 4 |
Range
North America, Middle America : Southwest USA, Northwest Mexico
Habitat
Desert flats with sparse growth of saltbush. Lives in more open
habitats than other thrashers, on dry flats with only scattered low shrubs. Found especially in areas of sparse saltbush, also on creosote bush flats in some areas; mainly where there are a few slightly larger mesquites or cholla cactus.
habitats than other thrashers, on dry flats with only scattered low shrubs. Found especially in areas of sparse saltbush, also on creosote bush flats in some areas; mainly where there are a few slightly larger mesquites or cholla cactus.
Reproduction
May mate for life. Pairs remain together at all seasons on permanent territories. In courtship, male may present female with twig or insect. Male sings to defend territory, beginning in midwinter; nesting may begin in February or even January, but lasts u
ntil June in some areas.
Nest: Usually placed less than 5′ above the ground. Low, dense cholla cactus fav
ored as nest sites; will also nest in saltbush, mesquite, or other low shrubs. Nest (built by both sexes) is a bulky open cup of thorny twigs, lined with rootlets, leaves, plant fibers, sometimes with softer inner lining of plant down.
Eggs: 3-4, sometimes 2. Pale greenish blue, lightly dotted with brown. Incubation is by both parents, about 15 days.
Young: Both parents bring food for nestlings. Young leave nest about 13-17 days after hatching. 2 broods per year, perhaps rarely 3.
ntil June in some areas.
Nest: Usually placed less than 5′ above the ground. Low, dense cholla cactus fav
ored as nest sites; will also nest in saltbush, mesquite, or other low shrubs. Nest (built by both sexes) is a bulky open cup of thorny twigs, lined with rootlets, leaves, plant fibers, sometimes with softer inner lining of plant down.
Eggs: 3-4, sometimes 2. Pale greenish blue, lightly dotted with brown. Incubation is by both parents, about 15 days.
Young: Both parents bring food for nestlings. Young leave nest about 13-17 days after hatching. 2 broods per year, perhaps rarely 3.
Feeding habits
Mostly insects.
Diet is not known in detail, but feeds mainly on insects, including grasshoppers, ants, beetles, and many others. Also eats spiders, centipedes, and other arthropods, and sometimes small lizards; eats a few berries and seeds.
Behavior: Forages almost entirely on the ground, walking and running rapidly on bare open soil. Finds much of its food by digging in the soil with its bill.
Diet is not known in detail, but feeds mainly on insects, including grasshoppers, ants, beetles, and many others. Also eats spiders, centipedes, and other arthropods, and sometimes small lizards; eats a few berries and seeds.
Behavior: Forages almost entirely on the ground, walking and running rapidly on bare open soil. Finds much of its food by digging in the soil with its bill.
Conservation
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico.
b Migration: Probably permanent resident, although it has been recorded in some parts of range only in breeding season.
b Migration: Probably permanent resident, although it has been recorded in some parts of range only in breeding season.
Distribution map
