Brown Thrasher

Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide

Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

Often hidden in brush, this bird may sing from a more exposed perch.

Brown Thrasher standing on a path beside grass.

Three Identification Clues

01 · FIELD MARK

Rich reddish-brown upperparts and a very long tail.

02 · FIELD MARK

Bold dark streaks on pale underparts and two pale wing bars.

03 · FIELD MARK

A yellow eye and a long, slightly curved bill.

Identification reference: Cornell Lab of Ornithology ↗

Field Photographs

Brown Thrasher standing on a path beside grass.
Brown Thrasher standing on a path beside grass.
Brown Thrasher perched among branches with its bill open.
Brown Thrasher perched among branches with its bill open.
Brown Thrasher perched upright on a twig.
Brown Thrasher perched upright on a twig.
Brown Thrasher in a green shrub with its rusty back visible.
Brown Thrasher in a green shrub with its rusty back visible.
Brown Thrasher among bare branches, viewed from behind.
Brown Thrasher among bare branches, viewed from behind.
Brown Thrasher perched atop an evergreen.
Brown Thrasher perched atop an evergreen.
Brown Thrasher on a leafy branch with its streaked breast visible.
Brown Thrasher on a leafy branch with its streaked breast visible.
Brown Thrasher on the ground, viewed from behind.
Brown Thrasher on the ground, viewed from behind.

Range & Sightings

Seasonal Range

Explore breeding, migration, and wintering areas.

View Range Map ↗

Recorded Observations

Explore sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.

iNaturalist observation map ↗

Keep Learning

Compare several photographs, then listen to recordings to connect appearance with voice.

Cornell · Identification ↗Cornell · Life history ↗Cornell · Songs and calls ↗