Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher adult

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Brown Thrasher nest

Brown Thrasher eggs

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A large, skulking bird of thickets and hedgerows, the Brown Thrasher has one of the largest song repertoires of any North American bird. Boldly patterned, it is conspicuous when singing on its territory, but is hardly discernable during the rest of year.

Description

• Large long-tailed songbird.
• Upperparts bright rufous.
• Underparts white or buff. with black streaking.

• Size: 23-30 cm (9-12 in)
• Wingspan: 29-32 cm (11-13 in)
• Weight: 61-89 g (2.15-3.14 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Song is a long series of variable phrases separated by pauses. Phrases usually uttered twice. Includes mimicked calls of other birds. Call note is a "tchuck" like a smacking kiss.

Conservation Status

Populations declining slowly throughout range, perhaps because of the maturation of shrublands in the East and the elimination of fencerows and shelter belts in the Great Plains.

Other Names

Moqueur roux (French)
Cuitlacoche rojizo (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Brown Thrasher is considered a short-distance migrant, but two individuals have been recorded in Europe: one in England and another in Germany.

• An aggressive defender of its nest, the Brown Thrasher is known to strike people and dogs hard enough to draw blood.

• Brown Thrashers leave the nest at only 9 to 13 days old, earlier than either of its smaller relatives, the Northern Mockingbird or Gray Catbird.

Sources used to construct this page:

Cavitt, J. F., and C. A. Haas. 2000. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). In The Birds of North America, No. 557 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.