Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Prescott, Granite Oaks Development, Yavapai County

This Brown Thrasher was discovered coming to the feeders of Delores and Art Manburg in Prescott on Thanksgiving 2008. It has been coming ever since and was photographed by Art on 6 January 2009.

Brown Thrasher is casual in Arizona. 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.

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.

06 January 2009, photos by Art Manburg