California Thrasher Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesCalifornia Thrasher

Large, long-tailed songbird with a long curved bill. Brownish above and brownish to peachy below depending on lighting conditions. Often runs along the ground with a raised tail.

Forages primarily on the ground by tossing its long bill in arcs to uncover insects buried in leaf and ground litter. Note long, downward curved bill, white throat, and dark eye.

Song is a long series of warbled, variable phrases, some musical and others harsh; each element may be repeated once or twice.

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Large and long-tailed songbird with a long curved bill. Brown above with a white throat and pale peachy washed underparts.

Sings almost year-round from the tops of shrubs.

Not all videos have sound

Found in lowland and coastal chaparral, riparian woodland thickets, and parks and gardens with dense shrubs.

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Similar SpeciesCrissal Thrasher

Adult

Crissal Thrashers are grayer overall with an obvious black mustache stripe that California Thrashers don't have. They also have a yellow eye while California Thrashers have a dark eye.

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Similar SpeciesCurve-billed Thrasher

Adult/immature

Curve-billed Thrashers have spotting on the belly not seen on California Thrashers. They also have a yellow eye while California Thrashers have a dark eye.

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