THRASHERS, MOCKINGBIRDS: SAGE THRASHER 561 
New Mexico. Its breeding range is from 5,000-7,500 feet. Eggs just ready to hatch 
were taken at Fort Wingate, July 14,1873 (Henshaw). It was fairly common near 
Koehler Junction, July 28-October 24, 1913, especially along the borders of the 
foothills (Kalmbach). 
It migrates so early that by August 6, 1901, it was already present at Carlsbad, 
far south of its breeding range (Fuertes). It is a common migrant below 7,000 feet, 
but usually does not appear in numbers until the latter part of August; Encino, 50 
miles southwest of Santa Rosa, August 19-26, 1911 (Dearborn); near Santa Clara 
Canyon, August 20,1906, and Ribera, August 27, 1903 (Bailey); the valley west of the 
Guadalupe Mountains, September 3, 1902 (Hollister); and Apache about September 
1 (Anthony). It was seen at Fort Bayard September 17, 1914 (Rockhill), and at 
Chloride September 20, 1915 (Ligon). It is common through October, but most 
leave the State in November. [A great flight was seen at Tularosa October 14, 1917 
(Ligon).1 Some of the later records are: Chama River, October 15, 1904 (Bailey); 
Corona, October 10-20, 1902 (Gaut); Cuchillo, October 22-23, 1909 (Goldman); 
Cactus Flat, November 5-6, 1906 (Bailey); Zuni, November 26, 1853 (Kennedy); 
and Deming, November 29-30, 1889 (Bailey). 
A few winter in the State—at Mesilla Park, January 19, 1903 (Ford); Silver 
City (Hunn); and one was taken January 27, 1854, at Fort Webster (Henry). 
The first spring migrants appeared at Apache, February 28, 1886 (Anthony); 
Silver City, March 22, 1884 (Marsh); on the boundary line 60 miles west of the Rio 
Grande, March 25, 1892 (Mearns); at Albuquerque April 3, 1901 (Bxrtwell); and 
at Rinconada April 19, 1904 (Surber). [At Lake Burford the first was seen May 29, 
1918, but afterwards it became fairly common (Wetmore).]—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —On ground-or in low bushes, especially sagebrush; bulky, made largely 
of coarse plant stems, twigs of sagebrush and greasewood, dry sage shreds and sage 
bark; lined with fine rootlets and sometimes hair and fur. Eggs: Usually 4, rich 
greenish blue, spotted with clove-brown. 
Food. —Buffalo and other berries, seeds, fruit, hard shelled beetles, locusts, ants, 
small wasps, alfalfa weevils, other insects, and by one record, 62 per cent of grass¬ 
hoppers. 
General Habits. —The grayish brown Sage Thrasher, next to the 
Sage Grouse the largest of the characteristic birds of the sagebrush 
country, may be seen perching on bowlders or running over the ground. 
Near the mouth of Santa Clara Canyon, to our surprise and pleasure, 
we discovered five of the interesting birds grouped around a tree 
cactus, and as they flew they showed their diagnostic white-cornered 
blackish tails. Near Ribera, we saw two of them, with tails character¬ 
istically perked up in wren-like style, hopping about under a tree. One 
secured on August 27, 1903, showed its yellow iris and was already in 
beautiful fresh fall plumage. 
Near Laguna, on September 16, we were greatly pleased to have a 
large animated flock of migrating birds come into the junipers near 
camp. Their harsh nasal chuck was frequently heard as they chased 
one another playfully about among the trees. In migrating, Mr. 
Gilman says, at times their average speed appears to be only about 
a mile a day. 
