North American field guide

Crissal Thrasher

Toxostoma crissale

Identification

Field notes

29 cm (11-12") Uncommon. Southwestern United States. Dense mesquite, dense brush along desert streams.

A secretive dark thrasher with a strongly downcurved bill. Distinctive dark rusty undertail coverts. Similar California Thrasher has a lighter or tawny-buff undertail coverts and belly.

Song: varied melodies, "chideery" and "toit-toit-toit" calls.

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Crissal Thrasher

1 rule
Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 4
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?
Reddish or brown · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
None · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States
result:742-crissal-thrasher:1:1 Source: 742 Crissal Thrasher, row 1