Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Gilbert Water Ranch, Maricopa County

This Brown Thrasher was discovered and photographed by Rich Ditch on 20 December 2011 and photographed by Pierre Deviche on 21 December 2011

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.  This the first record for the Gilbert Water Ranch (see checklist here). 

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.

21 December 2011, photo by Rich Ditch

21 December 2011, photo by Pierre Deviche

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