Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Mockingbird family (Mimidae)
Long slender body, long tail. Reddish-brown above, whitish underparts coarsely streaked with black, two whitish wing bars, yellow eyes, long downcurved bill.
Habitat:
Dense thickets of shrubby vegetation.
Nesting:
Bulky nest built in shrubs or low trees, close to or on the ground. Eggs are light blue with fine dark markings. Clutch size – 3 to 5 eggs.
Voice:
Song is a loud series of twice-repeated phrases. Mimics other birds.
Name Origin:
The genus name Toxostoma is from the Greek for “bowed mouth,” reflecting the bird's curved beak. The species name rufum is from the Latin for “reddish." The common name “thrasher” is from the English for “thrush,” and is not connected with “to thrash” or “to beat.”
In the Nature Park:
Short-distance migrant, arrives in March. Despite their large size, Brown Thrashers are cryptic and remain well concealed in dense shrubby vegetation.
Photos:
Brown Thrasher
