Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), Portal, Cochise County

This Brown Thrasher was discovered and photographed by Bob Inman on 19 April 2012 in a private back yard in Portal.  Over the next week a second and then a third bird were noted, all foraging together. 

Brown Thrasher is a causal fall, winter and spring visitor. Usually fewer than 1 or 2 are found every year, but they are possibly increasing. 

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, has streaked undertail coverts, is 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.

19 April 2012, photo by Bob Inman

23 April 2012, photo by Bob Inman

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