Brown Thrasher

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Brown Thrasher

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Mimidae
Genus: Toxostoma
Species: T. rufum
Binomial name
Toxostoma rufum
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is a species of thrasher, part of a family of New World birds (Mimidae) that includes New World catbirds and mockingbirds.

The Brown Thrasher is, as the name suggests, mostly brown or reddish-brown above, with a white breast and throat streaked with brown, and two white bars on each wing. It has a long tail, and its beak is also relatively large and somewhat curved. Adults average about 29 cm (11.5 inches) in length.

It is difficult to see all this however, as the bird is a retiring type that prefers thickets and heavy brush, often searching for food in dry leaves on the ground. In fact, it is more likely to be heard than seen, not only because of the rattling of leaves, but also because of its call, a sharp lip-smacking type sound. This bird is omnivorous, eating insects, berries, nuts and seeds, as well as earthworms, snails and sometimes lizards.

Its breeding range includes the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a partial migrant, with northern birds wintering in the southern USA, where it occurs throughout the year. There is a single British record of this unlikely transatlantic vagrant.

The female lays 3 to 5 eggs in a twiggy nest lined with grass. The nest is built in a dense shrub or low in a tree. Both parents incubate and feed the young. These birds raise two or three broods in a year. They are able to call in up to 3000 distinct songs. The male sings a series of short repeated melodious phrases from an open perch to defend his territory and is also very aggressive in defending the nest.

Although this bird is widespread and still common, it has declined in numbers in some areas due to loss of suitable habitat.

The Brown Thrasher is the official state bird of Georgia, and the inspiration for the name of Atlanta's National Hockey League team, the Atlanta Thrashers.

Contents

[edit] Media

[edit] Gallery

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) Illustration

Brown Thrasher

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Book

  • Cavitt, J. F., and C. A. Haas. 2000. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). In The Birds of North America, No. 557 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

[edit] Thesis

  • Boughey MJ. Ph.D. (1978). THE FUNCTION OF SONG VARIETY IN THE BROWN THRASHER (TOXOSTOMA RUFUM). Clark University, United States -- Massachusetts.
  • Bromer WR. Ph.D. (1988). Dispersal of dogwood seeds by avian frugivores: Ecological and evolutionary consequences. Purdue University, United States -- Indiana.
  • Cavitt JF, II. Ph.D. (1998). The role of food supply and nest predation in limiting reproductive success of brown thrashers (Toxostoma rufum): Effects of predator removal, food supplements and predation risk. Kansas State University, United States -- Kansas.
  • Gubanyi JA. Ph.D. (2001). Effects of high deer abundance on forests in eastern Nebraska. The University of Nebraska - Lincoln, United States -- Nebraska.
  • Haas CA. Ph.D. (1990). Breeding ecology and site fidelity of American robins, brown thrashers, and loggerhead shrikes in shelterbelts in North Dakota. Cornell University, United States -- New York.
  • Partin H. Ph.D. (1977). BREEDING BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE BROWN THRASHER, (TOXOSTOMA RUFUM). The Ohio State University, United States -- Ohio.

[edit] Articles

  • Bancroft J. (1994). Unusual nest site of brown thrasher. Blue Jay. vol 52, no 3. p. 160-162.
  • Boughey MJ & Thompson NS. (1976). Species Specificity and Individual Variation in the Songs of the Brown Thrasher Toxostoma-Rufum and Catbird Dumetella-Carolinensis. Behaviour. vol 57, no 1-2. p. 64-90.
  • Boughey MJ & Thompson NS. (1981). SONG VARIETY IN THE BROWN THRASHER (TOXOSTOMA-RUFUM). Zeitschrift Fur Tierpsychologie-Journal of Comparative Ethology. vol 56, no 1. p. 47-58.
  • Campbell RW. (1974). Brown Thrasher Toxostoma-Rufum on the Coast of British-Columbia Canada. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol 88, no 2. p. 235.
  • Cannings SR. (1972). Brown Thrasher in British-Columbia. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol 86, no 3. p. 295.
  • Cavitt JF, Pearse AT & Miller TA. (1999). Brown Thrasher nest reuse: A time saving resource, protection from search-strategy predators, or cues for nest-site selection?. Condor. vol 101, no 4. p. 859-862.
  • Davis J. (1968). A 3rd Specimen of the Brown Thrasher from California USA Toxostoma-Rufum. Auk. vol 85, no 1. p. 128-129.
  • Fischer DH. (1981). Winter Time Budgets of Brown Thrashers Toxostoma-Rufum. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 52, no 4. p. 304-308.
  • Flanigan AB. (1971). Predation on Snakes by Eastern Bluebird and Brown Thrasher. Wilson Bulletin. vol 83, no 4.
  • Goertz JW & Mowbray EE. (1969). Brown Thrasher with a Bill Abnormality. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 14, no 2. p. 254-255.
  • Haas C. (1985). New Nesting Dates for Brown Thrashers Toxostoma-Rufum Loggerhead Shrikes Lanius-Ludovicianus and American Robins Turdus-Migratorius in North-Dakota USA. Prairie Naturalist. vol 17, no 4. p. 249-250.
  • Heagy PA & Best LB. (1983). Factors Affecting Feeding and Brooding of Brown Thrasher Toxostoma-Rufum Nestlings. Wilson Bulletin. vol 95, no 2. p. 297-303.
  • Incledon CSL. (1968). Brown Thrasher in Dorset a Species New to Britain and Ireland Toxostoma-Furum Description. British Birds. vol 61, no 12. p. 550-553.
  • Jovanovic V & Atkins L. (1969). Karyotypes of 4 Passerine Birds Belonging to the Families Turdidae Mimidae and Corvidae Toxostoma-Rufum Corvus-Brachyrhynchos Cyanocitta-Cristata Turdus-Migratorius. Chromosoma. vol 26, no 4. p. 388-394.
  • Kroodsma DE & Parker LD. (1977). Vocal Virtuosity in the Brown Thrasher. Auk. vol 94, no 4. p. 783-785.
  • Manuwal DA. (1973). Extralimital Occurrence of the Brown Thrasher in Western Washington. Murrelet. vol 54, no 2.
  • Michael ED. (1970). Wing Flashing in a Brown Thrasher and Catbird. Wilson Bulletin. vol 82, no 3. p. 330-331.
  • Peet S & Ulmer MJ. (1970). Trematode Parasites of the Brown Thrasher Toxostoma-Rufum from Dickinson County Iowa. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science. vol 77, p. 196-199.
  • Peterson D. (1972). Brown Thrasher Visits Feeder. Loon. vol 44, no 2. p. 56-57.
  • Potter EF. (1968). Wing Flashing by Catbirds in Presence of Snakes Black Rat Snake Eastern Hognose Snake Brown Thrasher. Chat. vol 32, no 4.
  • Rivers JW & Sandercock BK. (2004). Predation by gray catbird on brown thrasher eggs. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 49, no 1. p. 101-103.
  • Wilson AE. (1969). Brown Thrasher at Island Lake Manitoba Canada New Record. Blue Jay. vol 27, no 1. p. 39.
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