The sage thrasher is a medium-sized passerine bird from the family Mimidae, which also includes mockingbirds, tremblers, and New World catbirds. It is the only member of the genus Oreoscoptes. This seems less close to the Caribbean thrashers, but rather to the mockingbirds instead.
Region
Western North America
Typical Environment
Breeds in sagebrush steppe from southern British Columbia and Alberta through the Great Basin and Intermountain West of the United States, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and northern Arizona and New Mexico. Winters mainly in the southwestern United States, Baja California, and north-central Mexico. Prefers extensive, open expanses of big sagebrush and other arid shrublands with scattered grasses. During migration and winter, it also uses desert scrub, pinyon-juniper edges, and agricultural fringes.
Altitude Range
300–2500 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The sage thrasher is the only member of the genus Oreoscoptes and is closely allied to mockingbirds within the Mimidae family. A sagebrush specialist, it breeds almost exclusively in vast Artemisia shrublands. Its rich, varied song can include mimicry of other species and is often delivered from the top of a sagebrush. Because it depends on intact sagebrush steppe, it serves as an indicator of the health of this threatened ecosystem.
Sage Thrasher wintering in Woodland, California. February 2017.
Temperament
alert and somewhat secretive, but often conspicuous when singing
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, bounding flights between shrubs
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs during the breeding season, defending territories within extensive sagebrush. Nests low in sagebrush or other shrubs; the cup nest is often well concealed. Pairs are monogamous for the season, and both parents feed the young. Outside the breeding season, small loose flocks may form in productive foraging areas.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A rich, sustained series of musical phrases, trills, and warbles reminiscent of a softer, more fluid mockingbird. Phrases are varied and can include snippets that mimic other species. Males sing from exposed perches, especially at dawn and early morning.
