Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Tortolita (Unincorporated Pima County), Pima County

This Brown Thrasher was first heard by Linda Greene in her yard on 21 October 2010 and was seen and positively identified by her and Larry Norris on 27 October.  It was photographed by Andrew Core on 28 October 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.

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.

28 October 2010, photo by Andrew Core