Brown Thrasher

Fast Facts:

  • Common Name:
    Brown Thrasher
  • Scientific Name:
    Toxostoma rufum
  • Diet: Vegetarian
  • Size: 9-12inches long
  • Weight: 2.4 ounces

Description:

Brown thrashers feature reddish-brown coloring with dark streaks on its underparts. Their whiter chests feature dark brown-to-black teardrop-shaped spots. It’s thought that their name originally came from the thrashing the birds do to insects before devouring them.

Habitat and Migration

Brown thrashers make their homes along the edges of wooded areas. Because they’re ground feeders, they’re typically searching while hidden by thick brush. Permanent residents in many southern areas of the United States, brown thrashers living in the north and eastern parts of the country migrate to warmer areas for winter.

Social Behavior

Usually seen living in pairs or solo, brown thrashers are a difficult bird to spot and are fairly elusive. Because they spend much of their time on the ground, searching for food, they’re typically seen more often than heard.

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