Bird · GBIF taxon 5231688
Curve-billed Thrasher
Toxostoma curvirostreAlso known as Cholla Bird
Curve-billed thrashers are iconic desert songbirds recognizable by their piercing orange-yellow eyes and sickle-shaped bills used to toss leaf litter and dig for buried insects. Often found nesting amid the protective spines of cholla cactus, pairs defend year-round territories with sharp two-note 'whit-wheet' calls and melodious rolling songs. They adapt remarkably well to arid suburban gardens, frequenting bird baths and feeding boldly on fallen fruit or seeds.
Desert DwellerVocal SongbirdGround Forager
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Cactus Fruit
- Grasshoppers
Predators
- Cooper's Hawk
- Domestic Cat
- Coachwhip Snake
ThreatsHabitat loss from urban sprawl, severe prolonged drought, and predation by feral cats
HabitatsArid scrub, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, cactus woodlands, and desert suburbs
Life span5–10 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMimidae
- GenusToxostoma
- SpeciesToxostoma curvirostre
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Sound Identification: Listen for a sharp, human-like two-note whistle often given from atop saguaros or fence posts.
- Observing Foraging: Watch ground clearings near low shrubs where they vigorously flick debris aside with downward bill strokes.
- Yard Attractions: Offer shallow ground-level bird baths and native desert shrubs to encourage quiet backyard visits.
Frequent Companion (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by 116916927065934112165 · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Drepanostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Drepanostoma · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
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Family Member Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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