Bird Of The Week: Brown Thrasher
Kai Goldstein | April 15, 2025
Brown Thrasher || Toxostoma rufum
With a permanent expression of shock written on their face, Brown Thrashers hide among the shrubs most of the time. They build their nest, forage for small animals and mate, all mostly within the protection of dense vegetation. As timid as they might sound, they are not afraid to put up a fight to defend their territory and are known to draw blood from those who step too close. As a member of the mockingbird family, the Brown Thrasher can have up to five times more songs than the Northern Mockingbird! That is 1,100 songs, and still, the mockingbird often takes the spotlight. To differentiate these calls from the Northern Mockingbird, listen for songs sung in pairs as opposed to triplets. Despite the beauty of their voice, unfortunately, they are the most common victim of the infamous Brown-headed Cowbird. The individual pictured was found picking up sticks to help their mating partner build their nest, which was located only a few feet away.