by DJ Featherton
If you live anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains, and if you have any thick hedges or prickly bushes around your yard, Brown Thrashers should be near. These bright-brown birds with stripy breasts are hard to see because they spend most of their time near, or on the ground in those thick bushes. Once acquainted, you may wonder how you missed seeing this boldly colored and very active bird right in your yard. Though slow to come from the bush, in time they’ll find seed that has fallen from the feeder to the ground and become a backyard regular.
Just like the Rufous-sided Towhee and other birds that live and hide near the ground in thick brambles, you may hear their song before you have a chance to see a Brown Thrasher. In fact, the Brown Thrasher may be the most accomplished singer in the North American bird world. With over 1100 various song selections, ornithologists now believe much of the Northern Mocking Bird’s unending tunes actually belong to the Brown Thrasher. It’s even been noted that the Brown Thrasher’s song is richer and more mellow. They can even imitate other birds’ songs, including the Chuck-will’s-widow’s! It’s enough to be confusing! Catbirds and Mockingbirds are both smaller relatives of Brown Thrashers. So, with all this going on, how hard can it be to finally see where all the sound is coming from? It can be a challenge.
I have all three of these birds at my feeder, but it was the birdbath that first drew the attention of the Brown Thrasher. This birdbath is a large, glass, decorative bowl that’s in the sun with a solar bubbler to keep the water moving. I put several rocks in the bath for the birds to stand on which seems to help. But, make it clear, looking out at the bath with a big Brown Thrasher thrashing around in the water will make your heart beat! From there, these beautiful birds will be at the feeder in no time.
Sometimes the Brown Thrasher is called gangly. Probably because of his longer legs and tail. He also has a long, pointed beak that he uses to swish back and forth in the leaves on the ground to find dinner. The Brown Thrasher is a ferocious defender of his nesting area. Be considerate. That long, sharp beak has been known to strike dogs and people to the point of drawing blood!
None the less, the Brown Thrasher is a backyard beauty. By learning where and how he lives, you will find other special birds that live close to the ground. Stop and enjoy the beautiful bird songs. Then, try to see what birds are busy in those thick, dark hedges. This is backyard birding!
