Two hi-desert native birds considered endangered by California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Two species of thrasher are being considered for the threatened or endangered species list by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Bendire’s thrasher (toxostoma bendrirei) and LeConte’s thrasher (toxostoma loecontei) are two species of birds that live right here in the Mojave Desert. They are small to medium sized dusty brown birds with a hooked beak and an intense gaze. The desert songbirds’ natural habitat ranges from the Southern San Joaquin Valley through the hi-desert and out east to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and down into northwest Mexico, where they make nests in cholla cactus, mesquite trees, Western Joshua Trees and Yucca. LeConte’s thrashers also nest in saltbush.

The CDFW says that both species of the thrasher require large patches of flat land desert scrub habitats and adequate prey sources. In the case of this desert duo, that’s foraging on the ground for insects.

The two birds have been accepted for consideration to be placed on the threatened or endangered species list under the California Endangered Species ACt. The birds will be under review for the next 12-16 months until a final decision is made on the two desert songbirds.