Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

Brown Thrasher

Status

Physical 

The Brown Thrasher is a medium-sized songbird with a length of about 11.5 inches (29 cm) and a wingspan of 13 inches (33 cm). It has a striking reddish-brown plumage covering most of its body, with a lighter, buffy-colored belly and chest marked by dark streaks. Its eyes are yellow, and it has a long, slightly down-curved bill ideal for foraging.

Habitat

Brown Thrashers are usually found in areas with dense shrubbery, often at the edges of woods or in overgrown fields. They also inhabit gardens and parks, essentially anywhere they can find ample cover for nesting and foraging. They are prevalent in the eastern and central United States.

Feeding 

Primarily insectivorous, the Brown Thrasher hunts for beetles, caterpillars, and other insects in leaf litter or soil, using its long bill to turn over leaves and debris. They also consume fruits, nuts, and seeds, making them opportunistic feeders. During the colder months, their diet becomes more plant-based, as insects become less abundant.

Brown Thrasher
Image by Becky Laboy on Flickr