Claim: The California thrasher, which is about 30 cm in length and has a long, decurved beak, rarely flies in the open and are rarely seen.
Evidence: At about 12 in (30 cm) and nearly 85 g (3.0 oz), the California thrasher is the largest species of mimid. It has a distinctive long, decurved beak, and is generally brown, with buffy underparts and undertail (unlike the crissal). Like most thrashers, it rarely flies in the open, preferring to keep hidden in dense brush.