On April 16, 2026, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to designate Bendire’s thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei) and LeConte’s thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei) as candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Candidate status triggers full CESA protections while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) completes a status review and the Commission considers whether to formally list the species as threatened or endangered.
This post summarizes the legal effect of the Commission’s decision, the procedural posture of the listing process, and key biological information about these desert songbirds.
What Does the CESA Candidate Listing Decision Mean?
