[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Mimidae | [latin] Toxostoma longirostre | [UK] Long-billed Thrasher | [FR] Moqueur a long bec | [DE] Langschnabel-Spottdrossel | [ES] Cuitlacoche pico largo | [NL] Langsnavelspotlijster
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Toxostoma | longirostre | NA, MA | s Texas, e Mexico | ||
| Toxostoma | longirostre | longirostre | |||
| Toxostoma | longirostre | sennetti |
Physical charateristics
Similar to Brown Thrasher but back darker, less rufous; breast streaks black rather than brown. Cheeks grayer.
Listen to the sound of Long-billed Thrasher
[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/L/Long-billed Thrasher.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 31 | cm | wingspan max.: | 35 | cm |
| size min.: | 26 | cm | size max.: | 29 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 12 | days | incubation max.: | 14 | days |
| fledging min.: | 11 | days | fledging max.: | 13 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 5 |
Range
North America, Middle America : South Texas, East Mexico
Habitat
Woodland undergrowth, mesquites. In Texas, found in the brushy undergrowth of native woodlands of hackberry,
acacia, ebony, and other trees, especially near water, and in dense thickets of mesquite and other thorny shrubs. In Mexico, lives in various kinds of woodland and semi-open areas.
acacia, ebony, and other trees, especially near water, and in dense thickets of mesquite and other thorny shrubs. In Mexico, lives in various kinds of woodland and semi-open areas.
Reproduction
Pairs may remain together at all seasons, at least in some cases. Male defends breeding territory with loud singing.
Nest: Placed in dense and often spiny plants such as shrubby mesquite, acacia, prickly-pear, or yucca, usually 4-10′ above the ground. Site is usually well shaded in u
ndergrowth of woods and in an almost impenetrable position. Nest (probably built by both sexes) is a bulky and loosely constructed open cup of sticks, twigs, leaves, weeds, grass, and other material, lined with softer matter such as rootlets and fine gras
s.
Eggs: 3-4, sometimes 2-5. Pale blue to bluish white, finely dotted with reddish brown. Incubation is by both parents, about 13-14 days.
Young: Both parents bring food for the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 12-14 days after hatching. Probably 2 broods per year.
Nest: Placed in dense and often spiny plants such as shrubby mesquite, acacia, prickly-pear, or yucca, usually 4-10′ above the ground. Site is usually well shaded in u
ndergrowth of woods and in an almost impenetrable position. Nest (probably built by both sexes) is a bulky and loosely constructed open cup of sticks, twigs, leaves, weeds, grass, and other material, lined with softer matter such as rootlets and fine gras
s.
Eggs: 3-4, sometimes 2-5. Pale blue to bluish white, finely dotted with reddish brown. Incubation is by both parents, about 13-14 days.
Young: Both parents bring food for the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 12-14 days after hatching. Probably 2 broods per year.
Feeding habits
Mostly insects and berries.
Diet not known in detail; probably similar to that of Brown Thrasher. Known to eat many insects, including beetles, ants, true bugs, moths, grasshoppers, antlions, and others; also spiders and centipedes, probably small vertebrates such as frogs and liza
rds. Also eats many berries and wild fruits and probably some seeds.
Behavior: Does much foraging on the ground, using its long bill to flip dead leaves aside; also uses its bill to dig in surface of soil. Perches in shrubs and trees to eat berries.
Diet not known in detail; probably similar to that of Brown Thrasher. Known to eat many insects, including beetles, ants, true bugs, moths, grasshoppers, antlions, and others; also spiders and centipedes, probably small vertebrates such as frogs and liza
rds. Also eats many berries and wild fruits and probably some seeds.
Behavior: Does much foraging on the ground, using its long bill to flip dead leaves aside; also uses its bill to dig in surface of soil. Perches in shrubs and trees to eat berries.
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 increasing, 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
Resident southern Texas south to east-central Mexico. Migration: Mostly a permanent resident. Strays have wandered north into western Texas and even Colorado.
Distribution map
