Overview

Brown Thrasher: Medium thrasher, rufous upperparts, black-streaked, pale brown underparts. Eyes are yellow. Brown-black bill curves down, lower mandible has pale base. Wings have two white and black bars. Tail is long and red-brown. Legs and feet are brown. Fast flight on shallow, rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Brown Thrasher: Breeds from southeastern Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and northern New England south to the Gulf coast and Florida. Spends winters in southern part of breeding range.

Breeding and Nesting

Brown Thrasher: Two to six white to pale blue eggs, with light brown specks, are laid in a large nest built from sticks, grass, leaves, and rootlets, lined with grass, and built near the ground in a dense, often thorny bush. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Brown Thrasher: Feeds on insects, small amphibians, fruits, and some grain. Runs quickly on the ground when foraging, turning leaves over with bill to find food.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts

Vocalization

Brown Thrasher: Male sings conversation-like phrases with varied phrases given in phrases of two's and three's. Call is a bold "smack" or "churr."

Similar Species

Brown Thrasher: Long-billed Thrasher has more gray-brown upperparts, darker streaks on dull white underparts, longer, more decurved bill, orange-red eyes, and long gray-brown tail.