California Thrasher

31 cm (12") Common. California, northern Baja California. Chaparral, foothills, parkland, thickets. Only Crissal's and Le Conte's Thrashers overlap its range.

Upperparts dark gray. Light throat. Dark breast. Tawny-buff belly and undertail coverts. Long tail. Long curved bill is used for digging the ground rather than scratching with feet.

Song: loud, long melodious phrases often repeated. Imitates other birds and noises. "Chuck" call.

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