Sage Thrasher
Oreoscoptes montanus
Status
Endangered
Description
Slightly smaller than a robin. Longish, slightly down-curved bill. Grey-brown upperparts. Dark brown spots and streaking on creamy-white underparts. Longish tail with white corner patches. Yellow eyes and brown moustache stripes.
Habitat
Sage Thrashers will only nest in large open areas of shrub-steppe habitat. They prefer sagebrush steppe but also will nest in antelope-brush shrub-steppe. They require brush height of at least 1m.
Sage Thrashers are only found in the extreme southern Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. They winter in the Southern US and Mexico.
Threats
Habitat loss due to agriculture and development
Invasive plants reducing habitat quality
Intensive livestock grazing
Excessive road and trail construction
Tree encroachment into grasslands and open areas
You Can Help!
COnserve and protect wildlife habitat
Practice responsible recreation when ATVing, dirtbiking, hiking, etc.
Control invasive plants and reduce soil disturbance to prevent invasive plants from establishing
Protect areas with large mature patches of big sagebrush
