4-28-19, male curve-billed thrasher singing in tree cholla cactus, desert strip near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
This species mates for life, and since he's alone, his mate may have been killed.
The day before yesterday I suddenly realized this particular male thrasher was trying to win me as a mate, and this was soon confirmed.
As soon as I entered the desert strip at the bottom of our mountain, the male thrasher began shrieking "WIT! WIT!" flew straight over, jumped into the nest and began rearranging the sticks, while singing with all his might, looking me in the eye, even though I was only 15 feet away.
I was intending to go on past the cholla cactus, but didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I stayed to photograph him a bit and ask the universe to bring him a new (real) curve-billed thrasher mate.
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7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Thanks for the pictures, I await what you do here.
dalefvictor
Level 8
Apr 30, 2019
1
Well, today when I went hiking, the thrasher came zooming over and began singing from sagebrush clump to sagebrush clump ahead of me until he reached the tree cholla cactus where he resumed his courtship display, but this time I pretended I was too busy to stop and listen, hurrying on up the valley.
I didn't want to lead him on by stopping to admire him, listen to his music and take photos of him. I continued to imagine/to will the universe sending him a female curve-billed thrasher of his own.
However I noticed that all the way up the valley, even at the next tree cholla cactus where there are babies, the male whistled a greeting to me..a soft "wit, wit" while on guard duty, and I heard the greeting even from sagebrush thickets where I couldn't see the nest.
One male thrasher even burst into song as I approached, even though he was deep in a sagebrush thicket, but I hurried past, hoping he wouldn't consider me a possible romantic interest.
After all, the male thrasher that nests by my yard flies over to my door and sings "Wit-wit" to me at sunset, as a sort of "good-night, John Boy," Walton thing, and I can hear other thrashers, including his mate, also giving that "wit-wit" call in the desert below, then they all fall silent and the male dives back into his nesting thicket.
Why do you surmise his mate was killed? He looks like just another horny cockalorum like all the rest.
Aristopus
Level 7
Apr 29, 2019
1
Because he's an adult male and the breeding season is almost over for the first round of nesting, and these birds mate for life. They find a mate during the winter, and start nesting in March. The pair just up the desert from him have almost fully fledged chicks.
Yes...BUT....he'd want you to perch barefoot on that cactus!
There's a peacock at the zoo who strolls around, displaying his magnificent breeding plumage to cactus and other plants and PEOPLE! ( Zoo staff remove female peafowl who fly in because having a ton of baby peafowl running around is dangerous for them AND for people.) It's sad and I'd love to help to help him find a date but..."it ain't me, Babe."
LucyLoohoo
Level 9
Apr 29, 2019
2
This is an excellent shot - such clarity, almost a noble expression
Justjoni
Level 8
Apr 29, 2019
2
LOVE those yellow eyes..
@birdingnut Definitely making eyes at you!
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