Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus


Sage Thrasher
The bird shown above and in the next two down was available for viewing and photography as a rarity in the Bay Area during Fall 2013. The normal habitat for these birds is, as the common name suggests, the sage deserts of the Great Basin of western North America. They bear a rather startling resemblance to the completely unrelated American Pipit.

Sage Thrasher

Sage Thrasher

Sage Thrasher
The yellow gape and the crisply striped fresh plumage mark this as a juvenile. 


Sage Thrasher
A juvenile, left, begging from an adult, right. The quality of the photo is poor, but I like the drama of the interaction (scared looking adult!) so I've included it.