Curve-billed Thrasher
Toxostoma curvirostre
I found this yellow-eyed thrasher at the summit of North Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona on March 5, 2006. We were near the end of a 142-day stretch without rain and so this thirsty bird was quite happy to lap up a little water spilled by a hiker.
This is one of the most accomplished singers amongst Sonoran Desert songbirds. The heavy curved beak is used to catch insects and small lizards. Thrashers also come to feeders for seeds and consume a lot of fruit such as wolfberries and saguaros. They also use there strong, curved bills to turn over soil and leaves in order to probe for small animals such as lizards, spiders and grubs to eat. The yellow eyes are distinctive.