Govind Tekale
Desert songbirds in California face a fight for survival as their numbers plummet across the Southwest. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission on September 16 to protect two species of desert thrashers under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
Bendire’s thrasher and LeConte’s thrasher, secretive birds native to the arid Southwest, have suffered dramatic population losses over the past five decades. Bendire’s thrashers have declined by 90% throughout their U.S. range, while LeConte’s thrashers have dropped by nearly 70%.
“These shy birds can’t cope with rapid climate change and other threats that are reducing their sparse habitats in Southern California deserts,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Without state protection, there’s a real risk California could lose both desert thrashers.”
California holds special responsibility for these birds. About 5% of the global Bendire’s thrasher population—roughly 4,400 birds—lives in the state’s southeastern deserts. Even more significant, California is home to about 37,000 LeConte’s thrashers, representing more than 80% of their global population.
The 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report named both species as “Red Alert Tipping Point Species” since they’ve lost more than half their populations within 50 years and require urgent action.
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Research shows the birds face multiple serious threats. Urban sprawl and agriculture have destroyed large areas of suitable habitat. Invasive plants reduce the insects thrashers depend on for food and eliminate shrubs they need for nesting. These invasive species also increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Rising temperatures from climate change further limit where these birds can find food and build nests.
Both species have been on California’s Species of Special Concern list since 1978, but this designation hasn’t stopped their decline. If the Fish and Game Commission accepts the petition, the thrashers will receive temporary “candidate” protections while scientists conduct a full review.
The Center also petitioned for federal protection for both species earlier this year. However, the petition notes that federal action seems unlikely soon due to policy changes that have weakened environmental protections.
These desert birds play an important ecological role. They spend much of their time on the ground hunting for insects, with males becoming most visible during breeding season when they perch on shrubs to sing. LeConte’s thrashers, nicknamed the “gray ghost” for their pale sandy color and elusive nature, prefer sandy deserts with saltbush vegetation. Bendire’s thrashers nest in cholla cactus, mesquite trees, yuccas and Joshua trees.
Scientists from the Desert Thrasher Working Group have been conducting coordinated surveys since 2017 to better understand these birds’ distribution, habitat needs, and the factors behind their decline.
