Ocellated Thrasher

Overview

The ocellated thrasher (Toxostoma ocellatum) is a bird species in the family Mimidae that is endemic to Mexico. It is assessed as being of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Length of 26.5 to 29.5 cm with a weight range of 77.3 to 95.8 g.
• Upperparts are dark brown with a slight olive wash, featuring a dull white to buff supercilium and brown cheeks.
• Bold black spots adorn the breast, sides, and flanks, while the folded wings display two white bars and the outer tail feathers have narrow white tips.
• Song consists of a varied, rich warbling with phrases repeated two or three times, accompanied by a hard, slightly smacking to gruff 'chehk' or 'tchehk' call.

Habitat

The species inhabits arid and semi-arid scrub, as well as the brushy understory of oak and pine-oak forests, at elevations between 1,400 and 3,000 m. Its range covers central Mexico from San Luis Potosí south to Hidalgo and México for the nominate subspecies, and between Puebla and Oaxaca for T. o. villai.

Diet

The ocellated thrasher forages mostly in dense vegetation on the ground or near it. Although its specific diet has not been documented, it is presumed to consist of arthropods, other invertebrates, and possibly fruit.

Did you know?

Very little is known about the ocellated thrasher's breeding phenology, but its nest is constructed as a cup of twigs and grass situated in a bush or tree, with a clutch size believed to be two.