Sage thrasher

The sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) 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 (Hunt et al. 2001, Barber et al. 2004).

Description
Oreoscoptes montanus are pale grey-brown on the upperparts and white with dark streaks on the underparts. They have a slim straight relatively short bill, yellow eyes and a long tail, although not as long as that of other thrashers.

Measurements:


 * Length: 7.9-9.1 in (20-23 cm)
 * Weight: 1.4-1.8 oz (40-50 g)
 * Wingspan: 12.6 in (32 cm)

Breeding
As its name suggests, this bird breeds in western North America, from southern Canada to northern Arizona and New Mexico. Its breeding habitat is in areas with dense stands of sagebrush and rarely in other shrubby areas. Their nests are made of twigs, rootlets and bark strips, lined with fine rootlets. The female lays 4 or 5 eggs in a twiggy cup nest built in a low bush. Both parents incubate and feed the young birds.

Migrating
In winter, these birds migrate to the southernmost United States and Mexico, including the Baja Peninsula, north and south.

Diet
They mainly eat insects in summer; they also eat berries, especially in winter. They usually search for insects on the ground in brushy locations.

Vocalization
The male bird sings a series of warbled notes to defend his nesting territory.

Conservation
These birds have declined in some areas where sagebrush has been removed but are still common where suitable habitat remains. The continued decline of sagebrush habitats in western North America is cause for alarm for this and other sagebrush dependent species.

Book

 * Reynolds, T. D., T. D. Rich, and D. A. Stephens. 1999. Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus). In The Birds of North America, No. 463 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Thesis

 * Castrale JS. Ph.D. (1981). USE OF MANAGED SAGEBRUSH GRASSLANDS BY BIRD POPULATIONS. Brigham Young University, United States -- Utah.
 * Howe FP. Ph.D. (1993). Effects of an experimental food reduction on nesting shrubsteppe passerines. Colorado State University, United States -- Colorado.
 * Johnson E. M.S. (2005). Bird and small mammal communities of sagebrush-dominated mountain meadows: An examination of meadow characteristics as part of a hierarchical, multi-level study of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Utah State University, United States -- Utah.
 * McIntyre KK. M.S. (2003). Species composition and beta diversity of avian communities along a burned/unburned gradient in sagebrush steppe habitat at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada. Sul Ross State University, United States -- Texas.
 * Petersen KL. Ph.D. (1986). AVIAN ECOLOGICAL STUDIES IN A SAGEBRUSH COMMUNITY: BIRD RESPONSES TO FIRE AND TERRITORY DYNAMICS IN A SPARROW POPULATION (IDAHO). Iowa State University, United States -- Iowa.

Articles
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 * Amin OM & Dailey MD. (1998). Description of Mediorhynchus papillosus (Acanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae) from a Colorado, U.S.A., population, with a discussion of morphology and geographical variability. Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington. vol 65, no 2. p. 189-200.
 * Belthoff JR, Powers LR & Reynolds TD. (1998). Breeding birds at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, 1985-1991. Great Basin Naturalist. vol 58, no 2. p. 167-183.
 * Bielefeldt J. (1973). Sage Thrasher in Waukesha County. Passenger Pigeon. vol 35, no 1. p. 35-36.
 * Castrale JS. (1982). Effects of 2 Sagebrush Artemisia-Spp Control Methods on Nongame Birds. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol 46, no 4. p. 945-952.
 * Fischer DH. (1983). Growth Development and Food Habits of Nestling Mimids in South Texas USA. Wilson Bulletin. vol 95, no 1. p. 97-105.
 * Howe FP. (1992). Effects of Protocalliphora-Braueri Diptera Calliphoridae Parasitism and Inclement Weather on Nestling Sage Thrashers. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. vol 28, no 1. p. 141-143.
 * Howe FP, Knight RL, McEwen LC & George TL. (1996). Direct and indirect effects of insecticide applications on growth and survival of nestling passerines. Ecological Applications. vol 6, no 4. p. 1314-1324.
 * Howe FP, Knight RL, McEwen LC & George TL. (2000). Diet switching and food delivery by shrubsteppe passerines in response to an experimental reduction in food. Western North American Naturalist. vol 60, no 2. p. 139-154.
 * Ingelfinger F & Anderson S. (2004). Passerine response to roads associated with natural gas extraction in a sagebrush steppe habitat. Western North American Naturalist. vol 64, no 3. p. 385-395.
 * Johnston DW. (1969). Sage Thrasher and Other Unusual Birds in North-Central Florida. Auk. vol 86, no 4. p. 754-755.
 * Killpack ML. (1970). Notes on Sage Thrasher Nestlings in Colorado. Condor. vol 72, no 4. p. 486-488.
 * Knick ST & Rotenberry JT. (1995). Landscape characteristics of fragmented shrubsteppe habitats and breeding passerine birds. Conservation Biology. vol 9, no 5. p. 1059-1071.
 * Knick ST & Rotenberry JT. (2000). Ghosts of habitats past: Contribution of landscape change to current habitats used by shrubland birds. Ecology. vol 81, no 1. p. 220-227.
 * Knick ST & Rotenberry JT. (2002). Effects of habitat fragmentation on passerine birds breeding in Intermountain shrubsteppe. Studies in Avian Biology. vol 25, p. 130-140.
 * Lavers N. (1980). Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes-Montanus New-Record Arkansas USA. Arkansas Academy of Science Proceedings. vol 34, no 122.
 * McNicholl MK. (1973). Sight Record of Sage Thrasher near Cache Creek British-Columbia. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol 87, no 4.
 * Medin DE. (1992). BIRDS OF A GREAT-BASIN SAGEBRUSH HABITAT IN EAST-CENTRAL NEVADA. Usda Forest Service Intermountain Research Station Research Paper. no 452. p. U1-U4.
 * Noson AC, Schmitz RA & Miller RF. (2006). Influence of fire and Juniper encroachment on birds in high-elevation sagebrush steppe. Western North American Naturalist. vol 66, no 3. p. 343-353.
 * Petersen KL & Best LB. (1991). Nest-Site Selection by Sage Thrashers in Southeastern Idaho. Great Basin Naturalist. vol 51, no 3. p. 261-266.
 * Reynolds TD. (1981). Nesting of the Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes-Montanus Sage Sparrow Amphispiza-Belli and Brewers Sparrow Spizella-Breweri in Southeastern Idaho USA. Condor. vol 83, no 1. p. 61-64.
 * Reynolds TD & Rich TD. (1978). Reproductive Ecology of the Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes-Montanus on the Snake River Plain in South Central Idaho USA. Auk. vol 95, no 3. p. 580-582.
 * Rich T. (1980). Nest Placement in Sage Thrashers Oreoscoptes-Montanus Sage Sparrows Amphispiza-Belli and Brewers Sparrows Spizella-Breweri. Wilson Bulletin. vol 92, no 3. p. 362-368.
 * Rich T. (1985). A Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes-Montanus Nest with Constructed Shading Platform. Murrelet. vol 66, no 1. p. 18-19.
 * Rich T & Rothstein SI. (1985). Sage Thrashers Oreoscoptes-Montanus Reject Cowbird Molothrus-Ater Eggs. Condor. vol 87, no 4. p. 561-562.
 * Rich TDG. (1980). Bilateral Wing Display in the Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes-Montanus. Wilson Bulletin. vol 94, no 4. p. 512-513.
 * Rose BJ. (1969). Sage Thrasher in Pennington County. South Dakota Bird Notes. vol 21, no 4.
 * Rotenberry JT & Wiens JA. (1989). Reproductive Biology of Shrubsteppe Passerine Birds Geographical and Temporal Variation in Clutch Size Brood Size and Fledging Success. Condor. vol 91, no 1. p. 1-14.
 * Rowlett RA. (1972). 1st Sage Thrasher for Maryland. Atlantic Naturalist. vol 27, no 2. p. 85-86.
 * Vander Haegen WM, Schroeder MA & Degraaf RM. (2002). Predation on real and artificial nests in shrubsteppe landscapes fragmented by agriculture. Condor. vol 104, no 3. p. 496-506.
 * Weber JW & Larrison EJ. (1976). Status of the Sage Thrasher in Asotin County Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Murrelet. vol 57, no 3.
 * Wiens JA & Rotenberry JT. (1980). Patterns of Morphology and Ecology in Grassland and Shrub Steppe Bird Populations. Ecological Monographs. vol 50, no 3. p. 287-308.
 * Wiens JA, Rotenberry JT & Van Horne B. (1987). Habitat Occupancy Patterns of North American Shrubsteppe Birds the Effects of Spatial Scale. Oikos. vol 48, no 2. p. 132-147.
 * Williams NS. (1983). 3 New Species of Brueelia Mallophaga Philopteridae from the Mimidae Aves Passeriformes. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. vol 96, no 4. p. 599-604.
 * Wilson Ornithol Soc Conserv C. (1976). Conservation Committee Report on Effects of Alteration of Sagebrush Communities on the Associated Avi Fauna. Wilson Bulletin. vol 88, no 1. p. 165-171.