Long-Billed Thrasher vs Curve-Billed Thrasher

Long-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma longirostre

How to recognise a long-billed thrasher?

General appearance

The Long-billed thrasher has a body size of approximately 11 1/2" (29 cm), similar to the size of a Crow or a Robin. It has a broad-wing shape with long, rounded, wedge-shaped tail. The species is noted for its more grayish face compared to the Brown Thrasher, along with brighter orange eyes and slightly longer and curved bill. Its coloration features black, brown, gray, orange, red, and white.

Male vs female

There is no significant sexual dimorphism in the Long-billed thrasher. Both males and females share the same general appearance regarding size, coloration, and physical traits such as the broad wings, long bill, rounded and wedge-shaped tail.

Juvenile

Juvenile Long-billed thrashers are similar to adults in general appearance, but they may have a less intense coloration compared to adults. The gray on the face, the orange of the eyes, and the colors on the body might not be as bright as in adults. With age, they develop the definitive adult plumage and the distinct bright orange eye color.

Size

9.8 - 10.6 in/2.2 - 2.4 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The long-billed thrasher primarily resides in woodlands with dense, brushy undergrowth of hackberry, acacia, and ebony trees, especially near water sources, and in thickets of mesquite and other thorny shrubs.

Additional range

Apart from Texas, the bird occupies various kinds of woodland and semi-open areas in Mexico.

Range Map

What do long-billed thrashers like to eat?

Natural diet

The long-billed thrasher primarily feeds on a variety of insects and berries. Its diet closely resembles that of the Brown Thrasher. Common insects in its diet include beetles, ants, true bugs, moths, grasshoppers, and antlions, along with spiders and centipedes. It likely also consumes small vertebrates such as frogs and lizards. In addition to animal prey, the thrasher eats many types of berries and wild fruits, and probably some seeds.

Bird feeders

There is no specific information about the long-billed thrasher's consumption of food from bird feeders. However, they might occasionally visit feeders that offer fruits or insects, aligning with their natural diet preferences.

What does a long-billed thrasher sound like?

The long-billed thrasher's vocalizations are quite varied, consisting of a series of paired phrases akin to the songs of a Brown Thrasher. Its key calls are characterized by a low 'chuck'. This bird possesses a unique Falling, Rising, and Undulating call pattern. The call types it employs are predominantly a Buzz, Chirp/Chip, Trill, and Whistle. Therefore, its vocal repertoire is diverse, complex, and distinctly melodious.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Curve-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

How to recognise a curve-billed thrasher?

General appearance

The Curve-billed Thrasher measures between 9.5 to 11.5 inches, equivalent to 24-29 cm, with similar sizes of a Crow. It has a broad wing shape and a long, rounded, and wedge-shaped tail. The overall color profile is a dull gray-brown featuring a black, moderately curved bill. Its eyes are distinctive with a yellow-orange coloration. In Texas specifically, they have more visible chest spots.

Male vs female

Unlike some bird species, the male and female Curve-billed Thrashers do not exhibit any noticeable physical differences in coloration, size, or marking. Both sexes possess the same dull gray-brown coloration, yellow-orange eyes, and the distinctive moderately curved black bill.

Juvenile

The juvenile Curve-billed Thrasher has a shorter bill compared to adults. Their upper chest carries sharper and more pronounced spots. Similar to their adult counterparts, they present with the same general color profile of gray-brown, though the coloring may slightly vary by season.

Size

10.6 - 11.0 in/2.0 - 3.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The curve-billed thrasher primarily inhabits the Sonoran desert and dry, brushy regions, generally preferring lowlands with varied vegetation. It tends to avoid extremely arid desert conditions with sparse plant life.

Additional range

Unexpectedly, this bird is often found in suburban neighborhoods, especially where cholla cactus is present. In southern Texas, it resides in chaparral with prickly-pear cactus and sometimes on open grassland near cholla stands.

Range Map

What do curve-billed thrashers like to eat?

Natural diet

The curve-billed thrasher primarily feeds on a wide array of insects and their larvae, such as beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and wasps. It also consumes spiders, centipedes, snails, and sowbugs. In addition to these, the bird's diet includes various berries and heavily features the fruits and seeds of cactus, notably those from prickly-pear and saguaro.

Bird feeders

The curve-billed thrasher can occasionally visit bird feeders but is more attracted to natural food sources. When visiting feeders, it might consume seeds and suet. However, they are not as commonly seen at feeders compared to natural environments.

What does a curve-billed thrasher sound like?

The curve-billed thrasher produces vocalizations characterized by a quick succession of musical notes and phrases, often forming its unique song. Its call stands out with a sharp, whistled 'whit-wheet', exhibiting a pattern that starts on a high note and then rises. The bird's call types can be categorized as chirps or chips, and whistles.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Long-Billed Thrasher

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Curve-Billed Thrasher

Long-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma longirostre

General appearance

The Long-billed thrasher has a body size of approximately 11 1/2" (29 cm), similar to the size of a Crow or a Robin. It has a broad-wing shape with long, rounded, wedge-shaped tail. The species is noted for its more grayish face compared to the Brown Thrasher, along with brighter orange eyes and slightly longer and curved bill. Its coloration features black, brown, gray, orange, red, and white.

Male vs female

There is no significant sexual dimorphism in the Long-billed thrasher. Both males and females share the same general appearance regarding size, coloration, and physical traits such as the broad wings, long bill, rounded and wedge-shaped tail.

Juvenile

Juvenile Long-billed thrashers are similar to adults in general appearance, but they may have a less intense coloration compared to adults. The gray on the face, the orange of the eyes, and the colors on the body might not be as bright as in adults. With age, they develop the definitive adult plumage and the distinct bright orange eye color.

Size

9.8 - 10.6 in/2.2 - 2.4 oz

There's more to learn about Long-Billed Thrasher

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Curve-Billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

General appearance

The Curve-billed Thrasher measures between 9.5 to 11.5 inches, equivalent to 24-29 cm, with similar sizes of a Crow. It has a broad wing shape and a long, rounded, and wedge-shaped tail. The overall color profile is a dull gray-brown featuring a black, moderately curved bill. Its eyes are distinctive with a yellow-orange coloration. In Texas specifically, they have more visible chest spots.

Male vs female

Unlike some bird species, the male and female Curve-billed Thrashers do not exhibit any noticeable physical differences in coloration, size, or marking. Both sexes possess the same dull gray-brown coloration, yellow-orange eyes, and the distinctive moderately curved black bill.

Juvenile

The juvenile Curve-billed Thrasher has a shorter bill compared to adults. Their upper chest carries sharper and more pronounced spots. Similar to their adult counterparts, they present with the same general color profile of gray-brown, though the coloring may slightly vary by season.

Size

10.6 - 11.0 in/2.0 - 3.3 oz

There's more to learn about Curve-Billed Thrasher

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How to tell the Long-Billed Thrasher from the Curve-Billed Thrasher

Visual differences

The Long-Billed Thrasher measures about 11.5 inches, with a brighter gray face, bright orange eyes, and a more pronounced, slightly longer curved bill. In contrast, the Curve-Billed Thrasher ranges from 9.5 to 11.5 inches, is uniformly dull gray-brown, and features a moderately curved black bill with yellow-orange eyes. Additionally, the Curve-Billed Thrasher displays more visible chest spots, particularly in Texas. Both have broad wing shapes and rounded, wedge-shaped tails, but the Long-Billed Thrasher's wing colors are more vibrant.

Key differences and behavior

The Long-Billed Thrasher and Curve-Billed Thrasher exhibit distinct behaviors and preferences. Long-Billed Thrashers are notable for their strong pair bonds and collaborative nesting efforts in dense woodland habitats, thriving on a diet of insects and berries. Curve-Billed Thrashers, on the other hand, are more adapted to desert and suburban areas, identifiable by their distinct whistling calls and less collaborative mating rituals. They prefer cactus-dotted terrains, feeding on insects, berries, and cactus fruits. While Long-Billed Thrashers rarely visit bird feeders, Curve-Billed Thrashers are slightly more inclined but favor natural food sources. Both species are monogamous and share parenting duties, though their nesting habits differ, with Long-Billed Thrashers favoring dense shrubs and Curve-Billed Thrashers opting for cacti or low shrubs. These behavioral distinctions play a key role in identifying these thrashers in their respective habitats.

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Long-Billed Thrasher or Curve-Billed Thrasher?

Long-Billed Thrasher

How to recognise a long-billed thrasher?

Habitat

What do long-billed thrashers like to eat?

What does a long-billed thrasher sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Long-Billed Thrasher

Curve-Billed Thrasher

How to recognise a curve-billed thrasher?

Habitat

What do curve-billed thrashers like to eat?

What does a curve-billed thrasher sound like?

Call

Call

Song

There's more to learn about Curve-Billed Thrasher

Long-Billed Thrasher

There's more to learn about Long-Billed Thrasher

Curve-Billed Thrasher

There's more to learn about Curve-Billed Thrasher

How to tell the Long-Billed Thrasher from the Curve-Billed Thrasher

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

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Long-Billed Thrasher vs Brown Thrasher

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