Brown Thrasher
A species of American Thrashers, Also known as Fox-colored Thrush, Brown Thrush Scientific name : Toxostoma rufum Genus : American Thrashers
Brown Thrasher, A species of American Thrashers
Also known as:
Fox-colored Thrush, Brown Thrush
Botanical name: Toxostoma rufum
Genus: American Thrashers
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By schoenitz , used under CC0-1.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
A very inconspicuous bird, the brown Thrasher is hard to spot hidden in dense vegetation and underbrush. Rarely seen flying, this long-tailed songbird prefers hopping and running. Although it belongs to the group of mockingbirds, its imitations of other birds are considered inaccurate; however, the brown Thrasher is known for its wide repertoire of its own songs and calls.
Size
29 cm
Life Expectancy
12 years
Nest Placement
Shrub
Clutch Size
2 - 6 eggs
Incubation Period
1 - 2 broods
Number of Broods
10 - 14 days
Nestling Period
9 - 13 days
Feeding Habits
Brown Thrasher predominantly consumes insects, arthropods, fruits, seeds, and nuts. Foraging occurs on the ground and in foliage, using their bills to sift through debris. Dietarily versatile, they feed on a variety of animal matter—primarily beetles, worms, and caterpillars—and plant material including several berry species. Feeding strategy adapts across seasons, with animal matter constituting the majority of their intake.
Habitat
Brown Thrasher are typically found in North American habitats such as woodland edges, thickets, dense brush, hedgerows, and overgrown clearings in deciduous forests. They show a preference for areas with dry leaf litter for foraging and are also present in fencerows, shelterbelts, and woody draws in the Great Plains. Vegetation types within these habitats include cottonwood, willow, dogwood, American plum, saltcedar, hawthorn, pitch pine, and scrub oak. While sometimes found in backyards and gardens, brown Thrasher generally shy away from urban settings. They reside at altitudes conforming to their native eastern and central range, preferring a temperate climate.
Nest Behavior
Both sexes of brown Thrasher collaborate on nest-building which can span a week early in the season or a few days later. They share in the egg-laying and care for the young, reflecting their cooperative breeding behavior.
Nest Characteristics
Brown Thrasher's nest is typically located low in a tree or thorny shrub and sometimes on the ground. Constructed from twigs, dead leaves, thin bark, grass stems, and well-cleaned rootlets, the nest is a bulky cup around 3.5 inches across and a few inches deep.
Dite type
Omnivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Hulled Sunflower Seeds
Suet
Cracked Corn
Peanut Hearts
Bird Feeder Type
Platform
Ground
Behavior
Brown Thrasher exhibit ground-centric behaviors, frequently walking, running, or hopping in their natural surroundings. They forage by rustling through leaf debris with their elongated bills, seeking prey. Notably, brown Thrasher have a peculiar, fluttery flight when moving over short distances. In terms of social structure, they are seasonally monogamous, with uncertain pair bonding continuity year-to-year. Their mating rituals, obscured by dense vegetation, may include gift-giving of plant material followed by a chase. Territorial defense is fierce against both conspecific intruders and predators, displaying willingness to attack with enough force to injure, thus safeguarding their nests.
Distribution Area
The breeding range includes the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, but has been occasionally spotted West of the Rockies. The increase in trees throughout the Great Plains during the past century due to fire suppression and tree planting facilitated a westward range expansion of the brown thrasher as well as range expansions of many other species of birds. 
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Mimids Genus
American Thrashers Species
Brown Thrasher 
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