Bendire?s Thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei) is a large (23-25 cm) songbird that occurs through the U.S. desert southwest, south through Sonora, Mexico. In New Mexico, they breed most commonly in the southwestern corner of the state. They nest in dense low shrubs, trees, yuccas, or cacti. They live in various kinds of dry, semi-open habitats, including juniper savannahs and Sonoran desert with shrubs, cactus, and some grass understory. These birds primarily eat insects, which they find on vegetation or by digging and probing on the ground; they also will pluck and eat fruit.