Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Pima County

This Brown Thrasher was discovered and photographed by Richard Carlson on 09 November 2010.

Brown Thrasher is a causal fall, winter and spring visitor. Other than the bird (or birds?) that has wintered at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior for more than a decade, fewer than 1 or 2 are found every year.  However, this is the second documented report from Tucson this fall.

The bright rufous back and bold streaking of the underparts easily distinguish Brown Thrashers from other Arizona thrashers. However, all Brown Thrashers in Arizona should be carefully scrutinized for Long-billed Thrasher. There is as yet no accepted record of Long-billed Thrasher in Arizona but many consider a record overdue. Eastern forms of both species are easily distinguished: Long-billed is browner above, grayer on the face, streaked with black, rather than brown, below and has a whitish, rather than buffy, breast. However, western forms of both species, as would be expected to occur in Arizona, converge in appearance more than the standard field guides show. One of the best field marks then is the bill, which is usually all dark in Long-billed (with at most a paler gray base). The extensive fleshy base to the bill in this bird clearly marks it as a Brown Thrasher.

09 November 2010, photo by Richard Carlson

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