Long-Billed Thrasher
Toxostoma longirostre
Looking very much like its redder cousin, the Brown Thrasher, the browner Long-Billed Thrasher’s range is restricted to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Though it gets its name for its long bill, among thrashers, its bill length is not exceptional. The LeConte’s, California, and Crissal Thrashers all have a longer bill length.
In earlier times, we called this bird the Sennett’s Thrasher. Like all its thrasher cousins, it uses its beak by side-to-side sweeps through soft soils and litter to find its food. Invertebrates comprise most of its diet, but they will take fruits and small berries in season.
Modern science recognises two subspecies:
- T. l. longirostre lives in northeastern Mexico.
- T. l. sennetti lives further north and is the bird we see in south Texas.
When first I met these birds in south Texas, I believed them to be Brown Thrashers, a species I’d read so much about because of their reputation for issuing more songs than any other bird species. Birders more familiar with the avifauna of the region were quick to point out my mistake and properly identified this species for me. I’m still looking forward to meeting the Brown Thrasher, but such a meeting is more likely to occur further east than my Texas explorations carried me.
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27 Photos
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
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Description: These thrashers were heard everywhere I visited in the reserve. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 7:49 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D503780-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: These thrashers were heard everywhere I visited in the reserve. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 8:35 |
|
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 420 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D503951-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: These thrashers were heard everywhere I visited in the reserve. Atascosa NWR was a short drive from my camp in Brownsville, Texas, and remained open during the COVID-19 crisis, when many other nearby birding hotspots shut down. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:20 11:04 |
|
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D504715-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I had my first meeting with the Long-Billed Thrasher, when I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:37 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506429-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I had my first meeting with the Long-Billed Thrasher, when I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:37 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506468-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I had my first meeting with the Long-Billed Thrasher, when I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:10 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506662-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I had my first meeting with the Long-Billed Thrasher, when I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 13:37 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506450-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I was unsatisfied with the images I'd collected of this bird on my first two visits, and my mission for this day was to do better. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas, and I intended to pick up better images of some of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds, and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:19 |
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Location:
Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D505931-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I was unsatisfied with the images I'd collected of this bird on my first two visits, and my mission for this day was to do better. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas, and I intended to pick up better images of some of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds, and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:28 |
|
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506190-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I was unsatisfied with the images I'd collected of this bird on my first two visits, and my mission for this day was to do better. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas, and I intended to pick up better images of some of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds, and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 11:28 |
|
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506205-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I was unsatisfied with the images I'd collected of this bird on my first two visits, and my mission for this day was to do better. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas, and I intended to pick up better images of some of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds, and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 12:14 |
|
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506814-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I was unsatisfied with the images I'd collected of this bird on my first two visits, and my mission for this day was to do better. This was my third visit to Atascosa NWR in South Texas, and I intended to pick up better images of some of the birds I came up short with on my second visit. But then I started meeting new birds, and I stayed all day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:24 13:50 |
|
Location:
Atascosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D506977-Atascosa-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Cardinals, jays, titmice, and thrashers were attracted to the feeders and water provided by the staff at the sanctuary. It was ten days earlier when I paid my first visit to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville Texas. I tried to explore trails I missed last time here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:28 11:37 |
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Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X5793-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
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Description: Between the thick tangles of branches and twigs, I wasn't able to get a clear shot at this bird. Less than two miles south of the small town of Quemado Texas is a roadside rest stop, or picnic area, as Texas calls them, where I had a couple of first meetings with bird species in March 2020 on my way to Brownsville Texas. My winter visit in January 2021 had some nice surprises for me as well. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:11 13:53 |
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Location:
Roadside Stop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X0368-Quemado-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I met my first Long-Billed Thrashers last spring here at Atascosa, and I enjoyed getting re-acquainted. I spent the day in Laguna Vista and Laguna Atascosa Thursday. I didn’t find any unusual birds, but I enjoyed those that I met. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:04 11:20 |
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Location:
Laguna Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X8029-AtascosaNWR-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I met my first Long-Billed Thrashers last spring here at Atascosa, and I enjoyed getting re-acquainted. I spent the day in Laguna Vista and Laguna Atascosa Thursday. I didn’t find any unusual birds, but I enjoyed those that I met. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:04 12:17 |
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Location:
Laguna Atascosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X8771-AtascosaNWR-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: It was a two-thrasher day in Edinburg. I met both the Curve-Billed and Long-Billed Thrashers. I had an errand to run in McAllen Texas on Saturday and took the opportunity to meet a new birding location in the area, called the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands. What a lovely place! |
Date Taken: 2021:02:06 12:31 |
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Location:
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X9118-Edinburg |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Thrashers were among the birds enjoying the seed feeders at Bentsen RGV SP this cold morning. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 11:30 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X2148-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Three thrasher species live in south Texas; mockingbirds, this bird and the Curve-Billed Thrasher. The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 18:04 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X1870-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Three thrasher species live in south Texas; mockingbirds, this bird and the Curve-Billed Thrasher. The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 17:05 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X1587-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Three thrasher species live in south Texas; mockingbirds, this bird and the Curve-Billed Thrasher. The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 17:06 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X1592-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Three thrasher species live in south Texas; mockingbirds, this bird and the Curve-Billed Thrasher. The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 17:40 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X1717-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Three thrasher species live in south Texas; mockingbirds, this bird and the Curve-Billed Thrasher. The National Butterfly Center held a “Big Sit” event on Sunday. They invited me to join the team, and in between shifts, I walked the grounds in search of photo opportunities. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:25 18:05 |
|
Location:
National Butterfly Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X1908-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Long-Billed Thrashers seemed to be all over the grounds during my visit. Before leaving the Lower Rio Grande Valley and travelling west, I stopped at the National Butterfly Center in Mission to see friends there. |
Date Taken: 2021:05:09 18:14 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X7923_NationalButterflyCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: Long-Billed Thrashers seemed easier to meet during my spring visits to south Texas in 2020 and 2021. I was only granted the briefest encounter at the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands this September. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:19 14:31 |
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Location:
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_8504758-EdinburgScenicWetlands |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
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Description: Perhaps the only thing preventing the Long-Billed Thrasher from status as a south Texas icon, is its shy nature, like this bird at the National Butterfly Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:24 17:43 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_8505933-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma longirostre) |
|
Description: I met my first Long-Billed Thrashers last spring here at Atascosa, and I enjoyed getting re-acquainted. I spent the day in Laguna Vista and Laguna Atascosa Thursday. I didn’t find any unusual birds, but I enjoyed those that I met. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:04 11:18 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atascosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/125 |
File Name: LongBilledThrasher_D5X8000-AtascosaNWR-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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