Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum

Brown ThrasherjuvenileBrown Thrasher adultAnother skulker (see Gray Catbird below) is the Brown Thrasher. The thrasher is much larger than the Gray Catbird and as its name suggests is brown (almost rufus as its scientific name suggests).

Shown here are two individuals, the first being an adult and the second a juvenile bird. The main difference is the color of the eye, the adult being yellow and the juvenile being gray. When I first saw the juvenile from behind, I thought it was one of the thrushes but I saw the longer tail, and it was clear it was a thrasher.

Some of the thrushes (e.g. Wood Thrush & Veery) are similar in color on their back but the Wood Thrush has spot instead of streaks on its front and a much shorter tail. The Veery has light streaks on its upper breast and is otherwise gray below.

The Brown Thrasher is a mimic, meaning it can and does mimic the calls of other birds. Its typical song includes a series of phrases, most repeated twice with a pause in between. These Brown Thrashers were both at Volo Bog. In Spring, I saw a nest near where I saw the juvenile recently os its quite possible it is one of that clutch. The Brown Thrasher is listed as uncommon in the Chicagoland area and is said to be declining in numbers throughout much of its range.