Posted by Rich Hoyer (208.164.102.191) on March 16, 2000 at 08:19:09:
In my assessment of the bill, this is a Bendire’s Thrasher. While some Bendire’s Thrashers have a very obviously petit bill, many also have a large, stout bill. But never do they have the unwieldy, dangerous-looking weapon of a Curve-billed Thrasher. Even (or especially?) accounting for the possible foreshortening effect in this photo, the bill is within the range of Bendire’s and too straight and fine-tipped for a Curve-billed. I’m looking at a Curve-billed Thrasher foraging out my window this very moment, and when it looks at me at an angle, the curvature of the bill is accentuated, and the even curve to the lower mandible, thick to the tip, is visible. The pale base to the mandible looks real to me in the photo.
I would not consider the eye color (variable in real life and more so in photos) to be of any use. The shape of the spots on the lower sides of the breast is not visible. And I see no reason to think this bird is a juvenile; the plumage doesn’t look particularly fluffy. The pattern and shape of the outer rectrices is obscured by shade and vegetation.