Mockingbirds and thrashers (Mimidae)

Curve-billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre. Insects dug from the ground; cactus fruit.

Mockingbirds and thrashers (Mimidae)Curve-billed ThrasherToxostoma curvirostre
Scientific name
Toxostoma curvirostre
Length
9.4–11 in
Weight
2.1–3.2 oz
Nest
Twig cup in cholla or thorny shrubs
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–4 eggs
Incubation
12–15 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Grey-brown with blurry breast spots
  • Long down-curved bill
  • Orange eye

Voice

Sharp 'whit-wheet' call.

Diet and feeding

Curve-billed Thrashers by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
ArizonaYear-round residentFebruary–July
ColoradoYear-round residentMarch–July
New MexicoYear-round residentMarch–July
OklahomaYear-round residentMarch–July
TexasYear-round residentFebruary–July

Frequently asked

What do curve-billed thrashers eat?

Insects dug from the ground; cactus fruit. At feeders: mealworms, sunflower chips.

How big is a Curve-billed Thrasher?

9.4–11 in long and 2.1–3.2 oz.

Do curve-billed thrashers use birdhouses?

No. Twig cup in cholla or thorny shrubs.

Sources

  1. Curve-billed Thrasher — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Curve-billed Thrasher life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Curve-billed Thrasher — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.