Crissal Thrasher

Toxostoma crissale

Thess shy, secretive birds live in the desert south-west and northern Mexico. They prefer mesquite thickets as their habitat. Desert washes in the Southwestern USA, from Southeastern California to West Texas and Central Mexico host this thrasher. Like the roadrunners it shares most of its range, the Crissal Thrasher prefers running to flying when navigating its territory. Despite its cousin, the Long-Billed Thrasher’s name, both the Crissal and the California Thrasher sport much longer bills. They use their bills like rakes, thrashing the undergrowth in search of insect and spiders, but will take seeds and fruit if the opportunity presents itself.

The Crissal Thrasher has long been a nemesis bird for me. Though I’ve attempted in California to collect images, it took a trip to Henderson Nevada to get my first recognisable shots. I don’t consider these as successful. I managed better images while in New Mexico and again in Arizona.