Photo courtesy Byron Greco
This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the brown thrasher.
Along with the northern mockingbird and gray catbird, the brown thrasher belongs to the mimidae family of birds. As this name suggests, birds in this group are masters of mimicry and often imitate other birds in their songs. In breeding season, their songs are loud, varied and complex.
Brown thrashers primarily occur east of the Rocky Mountains and central Texas. They are short-distance migrants moving from northern to southern regions of the United States for the winter. In fall, a vagrant may show up and spend some time in our area.
These birds typically feed on the ground, thrashing their bills in quick, sideways motions through leaf litter and soil to uncover insects and arthropods. Some seeds, fruits and nuts also make up a part of their diet. They spend most of their time on or near the ground, walking, running or hopping, only flying short distances when necessary.
Hiding in dense vegetation is their best defense against predation, but they are also aggressive nest defenders known to attack even dogs and people who venture too close. They are generally found in scrubby fields, thickets, hedgerows and forest edges with dense undergrowth. Loss of this habitat type in the eastern United States has contributed to population declines.
Piercing yellow eyes and a heavy, slightly down-curved bill give the brown thrasher a fierce look. It is reddish brown above with bold, dark streaking on a white breast. Its legs, tail and bill are all long.
As the days get shorter, most of our summer migrants will have left and only birds which can survive cold temperatures and diminished food sources will brighten our winter season.
For information on activities, visit www.weminucheaudubon.org and www.facebook.com/weminucheaudubon/.
