photo by Phil Swanson

Oreoscoptes montanus
L 8 1/2″ (22 cm).

Song or calls:
Listen (NGPC audio)

Song is long series of warbled phrases, not unlike that of Mockingbird, but less repetitious.

Description: Sexes similar. Grayish above; white below with dark, bold streaking; yellow eyes; white wing bars; and white-tipped outer tail feathers. Juvenile is similar, but with streaked head and back.

Habitat: Closely associated with sage-dominated grasslands and similar shrubby, arid habitats during the breeding season. Found in a wider variety of habitats during migration, including open prairies and ponderosa pine woodlands.

Where in Nebraska: Usually found in the western U.S., it is a casual vagrant in the east. Uncommon spring and fall migrant in the Wildcat Hills. More common during the fall. Probably a rare summer resident in Kimball County. Vagrants seen in other counties.

Fun Facts: When disturbed, a Sage Thrasher is more likely to run on the ground instead of fly away.

(click image for larger view)