Curve-billed thrasher

Curve-billed thrasher
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Mimidae
Genus: Toxostoma
Species:
T. curvirostre
Binomial name
Toxostoma curvirostre
(Swainson, 1827)

The curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) is a medium-sized mimid native to most of Mexico and to the deserts of southwestern United States. It is a non-migratory species, and throughout most of its range it is the most common desert thrasher.[2] Several subspecies have been classified since 1827, though there is no consensus on the number. Allopatric speciation is believed to have played a major role in the variations of the curve-billed.[citation needed] It is grey-brown overall with a slightly curved bill, and is similar in appearance to the related Bendire's thrasher. It generally resides in desert regions of the United States and Mexico, but can inhabit areas predominately populated by humans.

The demeanor of the curve-billed has been described as "shy and rather wild", but it allows humans to view it closely.[3] It is very aggressive in driving out potential threats, whether competitors for food or predators of its chicks. The curve-billed thrasher sometimes mimics several other species, though not to the extent of other mimids. It has a variety of distinctive songs, and this extensive repertoire of melodies has led it to be known as cuicacoche (songbird) in Mexico.[4]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Toxostoma curvirostre". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22711115A132093983. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22711115A132093983.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dunne was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TAMU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Davis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).