Sage Thrasher

Oreoscoptes montanus (Townsend, JK, 1837)

Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus, is a passerine of the family Mimidae that breeds in western North America and spends the non-breeding season in central Mexico. It is tied closely to sagebrush country, especially shrubsteppe, and uses sagebrush for nesting. This bird is the sole member of its genus and the smallest thrasher. It was first described by John Kirk Townsend in 1837. In the breeding range it occurs across the western USA, while in winter it moves south into Mexico.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Mimidae — Mockingbirds, Thrashers

Breeding range

North America: w, sw USA

Nonbreeding range

c Mexico