388 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



in smooth easy flight. A. H. Miller (MS field notes, 1936) finds their flight 

 remindful of that of mockingbirds. Flight is their usual method of locomotion ; 

 time and again they were seen flying from tree to tree at lieights of from 25 

 to 50 feet, and, once, for a distance of more than a quarter-mile. This be- 

 havior was especially noticeable when the bird was being pursued; before I 

 could maneuver myself into shotgun range, the bird would fly off to some more 

 distant perch. A bird suddenly approached, while on the ground, flew directly 

 up into the top of an adjacent mesquite about 30 feet high. 



Voice. — Like all the thrashers, Bendire's is no mean singer; it is 

 almost equal to the brown thrasher and suggestive of even the mock- 

 ingbird. Mr. Gilman (1909) praises it in the following words: 



As for singing, the Bendire has them all beaten. The others are fine singers 

 indeed, but their repertoire is limited. Not so with Bendire. No two seem to 

 sing exactly alike and some of the songs are quite distinct from others. Not 

 only in variety of notes but in arrangement, are differences noticed. He is a 

 more constant singer than the others and I frequently discovered a nest by the 

 song of the bird. The earliest date of singing was January 8, and I could hardly 

 believe at first that Bendire was the performer. It was a low warbling song 

 with a decided sparrow "burr" to it. I approached as near as the bird would 

 allow, but could not be sure that he was the singer as no throat movement 

 could be detected. When the bird flew, the song ceased and began again after 

 he perched on a post. I repeated this maneuver several times before I was 

 convinced that Bendire was warbling. Next evening I walked under a mesquite 

 tree containing the singer and obtained a good close view of him and his 

 performance. 



As the breeding season approached they sang more often, the song becoming 

 louder and with less of the burr, in fact more like the typical thrasher song, 

 if such there be. The songs were all very pleasing, but the variations were often 

 puzzling at first. Whenever I heard a new strain I said, "only another Bendire 

 tuning up." They kept up the music till late in June and occasionally a song could 

 be heard all summer and up to the last of September. 



Field marks. — Bendire's might easily be confused with Palmer's 

 thrasher in the field, but the former is browner above, the spots on 

 the chest are smaller and more distinct, and there is more white on 

 the tail tips. Mr. Gilman (1909) says that Bendire's has a smoother, 

 evener flight than the somewhat jerky flight of Palmer's thrasher. 

 Bendire's can be distinguished easily from the crissal and LeConte's 

 thrashers by its comparatively short, straight bill and by the grayish- 

 brown spots on its breast; the latter two have much longer, curved 

 bills and unspotted breasts. 



Winter. — Authorities seem to differ as to the extent of the migra- 

 tion and the winter range of Bendire's thrasher. Probably there is 

 usually a short migration in fall from most of the range of the species. 

 Some individuals evidently remain on or near their breeding grounds 

 all winter, but they seem to be very scarce or entirely absent from 

 many of their summer haunts at that season. Their migration route is 

 not long, and they are absent for only a short period late in fall and 

 early in winter. Their winter range extends only as far south as 

 southern Sinaloa. 



