Curve-billed Thrasher
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September
Sept. 6 (2004): I was surprised today to watch a Curve-billed Thrasher dismember and eat an Elodes beetle that it caught near my compost heap. The 2 cm long jet-black insects are also know as stink beetles because of the chemically powerful quinones they discharge when disturbed. When threatened these beetles will elevate their posterior end and emit these offensive smelling chemicals. They are sometimes known as Pinacate beetles. Thrashers root about in the detritus on the ground towhee-fashion uncovering beetles, grubs, spiders and concealed seeds. They are maestros of bird song which they only occasionally perform outside of breeding season. On the other hand they call to each other at dusk year-round. The call is a sharp 'hey-you' which echos off buildings or off canyon walls in the mountains.
