California Thrasher Supersp. #40 Toxostoma redivivum Gambel       Field Guide IDs: NG-356; G-242; PW-pl 47; AW-pl 536; AM(III)-70 Nest Location Nest Type Eggs & Mating System Dev. & Parental Care Primary & 2ndary Diet.. Foraging Strategy MF I: 14 DAYS ALTRICIAL DIGGING 2 feet - 4 feet (To 9 feet) MF 3-4 (2-4) MONOG F: 12-14 DAYS MF SEEDS NUTS FOLIAGE GLEAN BREEDING: Chaparral, moist woodland with dense ground cover, brush along stream, suburbs with abundant plantings. 2 broods (occ 3?). DISPLAYS: Male sings from elevated perch. Female performs begging display; male presents food to or feeds female; cop on or near ground. NEST: Mostly hidden in shrub or low tree; bulky, of stiff twigs, lined with grass, rootlets. EGGS: Pale blue, spotted with pale brown, oft faint. 1.1" (29 mm). DIET: Mostly insects, spiders; some fruit, acorns, forb seeds. Forages primarily by digging and raking with bill. CONSERVATION: Winter resident. NOTES: Incorporates sounds of other species in its vocal repertoire. Male takes charge of fledglings while female renests. Young cannot fly until several days after leaving nest. Although highly terrestrial, male will ascend small bush to sing. Seldom forages >few feet from protective cover. Runs rapidly. STANFORD. NOTES: Resident where dense, brushy vegetation provides cover and nesting habitat, although may forage in the open and sing from high, exposed perches. Sparsely distributed on main campus, but one or two pairs are usually present near the Oval. More common and widespread in scrub near the Dish and around faculty housing. ESSAYS: Natural Selection; Vocal Copying; Bills; Courtship Feeding; Parental Care; Precocial and Altricial Young REFERENCES: Grinnell and Miller, 1986.