Curved Bill Thrasher

by Karen Slagle

Title

Curved Bill Thrasher

Artist

Karen Slagle

Medium

Photograph - Textured Photography

Description

I had been watching some Thrashers in my yard, in the Texas panhandle, and set up some water in a bowl next to a large rock. My Nikon D300 with a Nikkor 20-105 @40mm was put on a tripod about 2 feet from the water and attached to a wireless remote control trigger release. I used manual focus, ISO 400, f13 @ 1/320. I watched him and others come to the water and fired the camera from inside my home. He was such a fun and entertaining bird to watch. I changed the sky with a cloud image from my files, a cactus from my files and purchased texture. Hope you enjoy

Your print will not have the Fine Art America Watermark.

The curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) is a medium sized mimid that is a member of the Toxostoma genus, native to the southwestern United States and much of Mexico. Referred to as the default desert bird, it is a non-migratory species. Several subspecies have been classified since 1827, though a definite number has been disputed. Allopatric speciation is believed to have played a major role in the variations of the curve-billed. Along with its numerous subspecies is the striking similarities in appearance that it shares with is fellow Toxostoma member Bendire's thrasher. Nevertheless, it is recognized for its grey-like appearance and sickle-shaped bill. It generally resides in numerous desert plants within desert regions of the United States and Mexico, but can inhabit areas predominately populated by humans.

The demeanor of the curve-billed has been described as "shy and rather wild", but it allows humans to view it closely. It also is very aggressive in driving out potential threats, whether for feeding themselves or protecting its chicks from predators. The curve-billed thrasher is also capable of mimicking several other species, though not as prominent as other mimids. Its songs are generally distinctive from one another, and its extensive repertoire of melodies has led it to be known as Cuitiacoache in Mexico, which means songbird.

Uploaded

August 11th, 2014

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