Brown thrashers are medium-sized songbirds found throughout much of the eastern and central United States. They get their name from their brownupperparts and spotted underparts, as well as their habit of violently thrashing their food before eating it. But are brown thrashers truly “good birds” that backyard birders will want to attract?
What do brown thrashers eat?
Brown thrashers are omnivores, eating a wide variety of insects, berries, seeds and small vertebrates. Their diet consists of:
- Insects and other invertebrates like beetles, caterpillars, crickets, spiders, snails and worms
- Berries and fruits from shrubs and trees
- Seeds and grains
- Small lizards, frogs, snakes and rodents
They forage primarily on the ground, using their long curved bill to probe into soil and leaf litter. Brown thrashers smash or “thrash” larger prey items against a rock or branch to break them into smaller, more manageable pieces. This behavior gives them their common name.
Are brown thrashers helpful to gardens?
Brown thrashers consume many agricultural pests like insects and rodents, which can make them beneficial for gardens and farms. However, they will also eat berry crops and can be a nuisance at bird feeders. So whether you consider them “good birds” depends on your perspective:
Pros for Gardens | Cons for Gardens |
---|---|
– Eat insects and snails | – Eat berries and fruits |
– Prey on mice and voles | – Compete at bird feeders |
Overall, the pest control brown thrashers provide likely outweighs any minor damage they cause. Many gardeners welcome them as natural allies against more harmful pests. Installing fencing over berries and using squirrel-proof feeders can prevent problems.
Are brown thrashers threatened or endangered?
Brown thrashers have an extensive breeding range across the United States and southern Canada. Partners in Flight estimates their global breeding population at around 13 million with 79% living in the U.S.(1) They are still common across most of their range. However, Breeding Bird Survey data shows brown thrashers declined by over 50% between 1966-2015.(2)
Habitat loss is the major threat facing brown thrashers. They prefer early successional shrublands, forest edges and dense thickets, which are disappearing due to development and agricultural expansion. While not currently endangered, population declines mean brown thrashers could become a species of conservation concern. Preserving scrubland habitats will be critical.
What’s special about brown thrashers?
One of the brown thrasher’s most amazing traits is its song. Each bird has a repertoire of over 1,100 different song types!(3) Their tunes are rich, flute-like and more complex than nearly any other North American songbird. Males sing to defend territories and attract mates. Once paired, thrasher duets can be beautiful to hear.
Other interesting facts about brown thrashers:
- They are shy, secretive birds that tend to hide in thick shrubs.
- Clutches contain 3-5 eggs that are pale blue with brown spots.
- Brown thrashers are sometimes victim to brood parasites like brown-headed cowbirds.
- While awkward on the ground, they are agile climbers able to scramble through tangled branches.
- They get their scientific name Toxostoma rufum from their curving bill (toxon = bow, stoma = mouth).
Should you try to attract brown thrashers?
If you want to enjoy brown thrashers in your yard, here are some tips:
- Plant native shrubs and small trees like blackberry, dogwood and sumac.
- Allow leaf litter and brush piles to accumulate – they forage on the ground.
- Avoid pesticides that reduce insect numbers.
- Use fencing to protect any berry crops.
- Provide shallow bird baths for drinking and bathing.
With appropriate habitat, you may be rewarded with a breeding pair. Listening to their melodic duets on a spring morning is a delightful experience. Be cautious about feeders however, as brown thrashers can be territorial and aggressive at them. They best appreciate your yard when it mimics their natural thicket homes.
Conclusion
Brown thrashers are wonderful native songbirds that benefit gardens through their insect-eating habits. While populations have declined from habitat loss, they remain common over much of their range. Attracting thrashers requires letting your yard grow a little wilder, but the poetic songs and shy nature of these birds make them a joy to host. Theirdeclining numbers and forest-edge habitat requirements do mean more conservation focus on brown thrashers is needed. But if you live in eastern North America and have room for some early successional shrub growth, these tossed salads of song are sure to delight.
References
- Partners in Flight. Brown Thrasher Life History. https://www.partnersinflight.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Brown-Thrasher-lifecycle-FINAL-4_9_20.pdf
- Sauer et al. 2017. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 – 2015. Version 2.07.2017 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
- USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Brown Thrasher Identifcation Tips. https://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i7740id.html