Curve-billed Thrasher in December
Where curve-billed thrashers are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the Curve-billed Thrasher's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the Curve-billed Thrasher specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 5 states and provinces where curve-billed thrashers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where curve-billed thrashers are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, curve-billed thrashers are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
Curve-billed thrashers are not nesting in December. The season runs March–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, curve-billed thrashers put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in December
- Cactus fruit and seeds
Digs with its bill under desert shrubs; nests in cholla.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Full Curve-billed Thrasher diet guide → · Best feeder for curve-billed thrashers →
Watching curve-billed thrashers this month
Curve-billed thrashers are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region curve-billed thrashers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Curve-billed Thrasher month by month
Curve-billed Thrasher by state
Frequently asked
Where are curve-billed thrashers in December?
In December, curve-billed thrashers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do curve-billed thrashers nest in December?
No — curve-billed thrashers typically nest March through July at mid-latitudes.
What do curve-billed thrashers eat in December?
Cactus fruit and seeds.
Sources
- Curve-billed Thrasher — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Curve-billed Thrasher life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- 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.