ID please

This bird was seen amongst the cactus and agave flower heads when we stopped at the roadside in the top half of the Baja peninsular, Mexico on 6th February this year. I think that it is a Bendire's Thrasher,(triangular spots on breast, beak shape and size), although Sibley doesn't show it in Baja on the distribution map. Any ideas?

It's definately a thrasher... But I can't help with the specifics as I'm not familar with that region

- Luke

Andy, the extent of the streaking on the flanks looks far too extensive for either Bendire's or Curve-billed to my eye. I think this is a Gray Thrasher--a Baja peninsula endemic. I've never seen one, but have plenty of experience with the other two. I checked my copy of Howell and Webb's field guide to Mexican birds and it matches up well. Congrats on a good find.

Thanks for both of your comments. I have been to several web sites and it sure looks like a Gray Thrasher. No wonder I hadn't found it in Sibley!

I forgot to mention that I was photographing one bird, which turned out to be a Cactus Wren, which then flew in to some cactus and agave to my left. I panned round and carried on photographing. It was only later that I realised that I had then been photographing a different bird, the Gray Thrasher. Both birds were some distance away. What luck!