Sage Thrasher

The sage thrasher is the smallest thrasher. It is distinguished from other thrashers by its shorter and less curved bill, a shorter tail and smaller size. It is dependent on sagebrush for successful breeding and its numbers have been greatly reduced because of the elimination of sagebrush lands. I have seen it three times. First was in Buffalo Lake NWR, southwest of Amarillo in the Texas panhandle, on March 20, 2021. Second was on the east side of Antelope Island in Utah on April 12, 2024. Third was at Big Morongo Preserve in California on February 15, 2025. 

The sage thrasher seen in the Texas panhandle. 

This photo, and the next, were taken at Big Morongo. 

Illustration from Birds of the World. 

Range from Birds of the World. Based on the range map, the sage thrasher in the Texas panhandle was wintering, at Big Morongo was migrating and at Antelope Island was breeding.