The California thrasher is a large member of family Mimidae found primarily in chaparral habitat in California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. It is the only species of the genus Toxostoma throughout most of its range.
Region
California Floristic Province
Typical Environment
Occurs from coastal and inland chaparral of central and southern California into northwestern Baja California, Mexico. Prefers dense, brushy habitats including chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and oak scrub with abundant leaf litter. Also uses riparian thickets and canyon slopes, and may venture into shrubby edges of suburban areas where native cover persists. Avoids open deserts, closed-canopy forests, and high alpine zones. Territories are typically established in dense, impenetrable shrublands with tangled understory.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The California thrasher is the largest North American thrasher and a signature bird of the chaparral. Its long, decurved bill is used to sweep and probe leaf litter for hidden prey. Pairs defend territories year‑round and males deliver rich, varied songs from prominent perches. It is the only thrasher commonly found in coastal chaparral across much of California.
California thrasher singing
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; low, weak flights; prefers running through cover
Social Behavior
Typically found as solitary individuals or in pairs that maintain territories year‑round. Monogamous pairs nest low in dense shrubs, building a sturdy cup of twigs and rootlets. Both parents incubate and feed the young, and two broods may be attempted in favorable seasons.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, rich, and varied series of whistles, chatters, and musical phrases, often delivered from an elevated perch. Phrases are repeated and rearranged with improvisational quality, sometimes incorporating brief imitations. Dawn singing is especially vigorous.
Plumage
Warm brown above with buffy to cinnamon underparts and a paler throat; overall plain with subtle shading and minimal streaking. Long tail and rounded wings; feathers appear smooth and sleek. A distinct pale eyebrow contrasts with a darker line through the eye.
Diet
Consumes ground-dwelling insects, spiders, and other arthropods uncovered by sweeping leaf litter with its bill. Also eats seasonal fruits and berries such as toyon and elderberry, and occasionally seeds. Opportunistically takes small snails and other invertebrates after rains.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground under dense shrubs, along chaparral edges, and in leaf-littered ravines. Uses brushy slopes, arroyos, and scrubby suburban yards with native thickets for cover and feeding.
