Gray thrasher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gray thrasher |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Mimidae |
| Genus: | Toxostoma |
| Species: |
T. cinereum
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| Binomial name | |
| Toxostoma cinereum (Xántus, J, 1860)
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The gray thrasher (Toxostoma cinereum) is a medium-sized passerine bird. It belongs to the Mimidae family, which includes mockingbirds and other thrashers. This bird lives only in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. It is known for its unique appearance and interesting calls.
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About the Gray Thrasher
The gray thrasher has two main types, called subspecies. These are T. c. cinereum and T. c. mearnsi. Subspecies are slightly different versions of the same animal. They often live in different parts of the species' range.
What Does It Look Like?
Gray thrashers are about 21.4 to 25.0 cm (8.4 to 9.8 in) long. This is about the length of a ruler. Males usually weigh between 58.6 to 69.8 g (2.07 to 2.46 oz). Females are a bit lighter, around 54.4 g (1.92 oz).
Their backs are gray-brown. They have hints of cinnamon color on their rump, which is near their tail. Their chests and bellies are white. These white parts have cool arrow-shaped black spots. The outer feathers of their tail have white tips. Their eyes are a bright golden yellow. The two subspecies look very similar. However, T. c. mearnsi is a little darker overall.
Where Do They Live?
The gray thrasher lives only in Mexico's Baja California peninsula. Its home stretches from about 31°14' north latitude all the way to the southern tip. On the east side of the peninsula, it is found only as far north as about 28°. There was one sighting of this bird in San Diego County, California.
The subspecies T. c. mearnsi lives in the northern half of this area. The other subspecies, T. c. cinereum, lives in the southern half.
Gray thrashers like dry and semi-dry places. These areas are often open or partly open. They have cacti, scrub, or scattered bushes and trees. You can find them from sea level up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) high.
Gray Thrasher Behavior
How They Find Food
The gray thrasher usually looks for food on the ground. It also searches low down in plants. Scientists are still studying their diet. But we know they eat arthropods, like insects and spiders. They also enjoy fruits from cacti.
Reproduction and Nests
The T. c. mearnsi subspecies breeds in March and April. The T. c. cinereum subspecies breeds from May to mid-July in the far south.
Their nest is shaped like a cup. They build it from twigs. They line the inside with softer materials, like grass. T. c. mearnsi almost always builds its nest in cacti. But T. c. cinereum uses cacti, thorny bushes, and mesquite trees. Nests are usually within 3 m (10 ft) of the ground. A female gray thrasher lays two to four eggs at a time.
Their Songs and Calls
The gray thrasher's song is loud and a bit scratchy. It sounds like a warbling tune. They often sing it two or three times in a row. They usually sing from a high, open spot. Their calls include a rolling, rippling sound like "whirr-rr-rr" or "chirr-rri-rrit." They also make a gruff sound like "chrek."
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the gray thrasher. They have assessed it as being of "Least Concern." This means the bird is not currently in danger of disappearing. It lives in a very large area. Its population seems to be stable, with at least 20,000 adult birds.
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