bnc

Hard to say, it was mid day, but light was behind him. Probably flicker, thank you!

Thank you so much. Any other bird similar with white rump that is not spotted but has rust chest with curved bill? Flicker is more straight billed.

that does sound like the call! Do they have white patch on the top base of the tail showing in flight?

I'm in SoCal, went on a hike in an open space wooded area (lots of oaks) and saw a type of thrasher, when it flew he had a white patch at the top of the tail (can't see it when wings folded over when branched. Rust colored belly. Thrasher curved bill. I've looked thru my bird book and online, but none mention the big white patch at top of the tail in flight. Any ideas? Or even flicker? But it had curved bill. No song, but a call, like "eeuu" in a descending way. Thanks in advance!