long billed long billed medium sized resident eastern mexico bears strong resemblance close relative brown appearance calls behaviors species overlap range winter brown temporarily reside northern range long billed bird large sized especially wary measures prevent potential prey like named sweeping methods searching food predators aggressive defenders territories taxonomy specific derived latin words long bill subspecies long billed described scientific literature described half century later range extends southern particularly south central texas mexican states range eastern mexico states veracruz southward brown clade plumage patterns bill shapes originally grouping birds shown closely related genetic studies description bird slender long tailed averaging length weight large sized close size american robin described grayish brown crown color appearing rear shoulder broad white tips located greater lesser primary brown brown edges primary secondary gives closed wings appearance wing chin throat chest belly appear white pale white chest belly contain oval shapes white iris typically orange orange yellow dull brown bill base lower appear pinkish grey similar exception smaller darker red tinged appearance white juveniles dusty streak marks white similar species shares striking resemblance brown number differences face gray contrast reddish appearance colored eye appears orange generally longer bill stands apart face long billed overall appearance contrasts pattern comparison sage shares distribution long billed smaller distinguished white color distribution habitat species resident southern texas north san_antonio south north western mexico central veracruz east eastern breeding density highest resident lower significant habitat destroyed agricultural purposes population decreased 1930s 1970s human activity introduced grassland areas thought help species common resident range climate change suggested expansion texas evidence northern eastern migration counties decade span exception found new_mexico colorado species permanent resident range behavior long billed usually stay hidden near ground sing conspicuous searches insects ground turn leaves litter spotted singing exposed fortresses males generally spotted singing march mid summer excluding instances singing song periodically balance year generally wary possibly easily approached flights long billed generally close ground short erratic exaggerated fluctuations long billed staunch defenders territories defend nest including humans longest recorded lifespan species individual recovered september age years months banded voice song resembles songs especially rich musical occasionally phrases repeated times distinctive loud rich whistle mellow calls include loud sharp rapid sharp sounds territorial disputes resemble calls close relative brown breeding general nesting habitat long billed dense vegetation shrubs trees order nest inaccessible potential predators nests found plants nest cup placed thick low mid height vegetation materials twigs grasses female lays eggs described bluish white dense reddish brown gray appearance indistinguishable brown egg laying long billed texas occurs april june mexico dates late june july respectively eggs hatch period days unlike hatching process parents responsible lasts days feeding rarely victims brood brown headed feeding order locate food ground rapidly sweeping bill leaf litter upwards goes ground food diet consists invertebrates beetles insects crustaceans adequate vegetable matter especially
Long-billed thrasher