The thrasher is a medium-sized songbird found throughout much of North America. With their long tails, spotted breasts, and curved bills, thrashers are distinctive backyard birds. Thrasher species are also well-known for their loud, melodic songs.
Mockingbirds vs Thrashers
Mockingbirds and thrashers belong to the same family, Mimidae. Both are omnivorous songbirds with gray plumage and long tails. This can make identification tricky. However, there are a few key differences between mockingbirds and thrashers:
- Size – Mockingbirds are generally slimmer and smaller than thrashers.
- Bill shape – Mockingbirds have thinner, more pointed bills compared to the thicker, curved bills of thrashers.
- Plumage – While mockingbirds are overall gray, thrashers have spotted underbellies.
- Song – The songs of mockingbirds and thrashers sound different, which we’ll explore more below.
Common Thrasher Species
There are over 25 species of thrashers worldwide, with 5 species native to North America. Here are some of the most common thrashers found in backyards:
Brown Thrasher
The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) lives in open woodlands and thickets in the eastern and central United States. Reaching 11-12 inches long, brown thrashers are larger than robins. Both sexes are reddish brown above and whitish below with dark streaks.
Curve-billed Thrasher
The curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) inhabits the southwestern US and Mexico in deserts and scrublands. It has gray-brown upperparts and white underparts with bold black spots. The long curved bill gives this thrasher its name.
California Thrasher
The California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) can be found in chaparral, woodlands, and deserts of southern California and Baja. It has gray-brown plumage with a lighter belly and a long tail. The bill is yellow with a black tip.
Sage Thrasher
The sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) lives in sagebrush habitats of the western US and Canada. Smaller than other thrashers at 8-10 inches, it has grayish upperparts with white wing bars and a white belly with dark streaks.
Bendire’s Thrasher
Bendire’s thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei) inhabits arid brushlands of the southwestern US. It has rich reddish-brown upperparts and black streaks on its whitish underparts. The eyes are yellow and there is a gray patch behind the eye.
Thrasher Call Songs
Like many songbirds, thrashers have a short, simple vocalization referred to as a call note or chip note. Both sexes give the call throughout the year. Call notes serve social functions like staying in contact with a mate or signaling alarm.
Thrasher call notes are typically described as sharp chips or tseep sounds. The calls are louder and more abrupt sounding compared to sparrows or warblers. Below are examples of thrasher call notes:
- Brown thrasher – A loud, ringing tchak!
- California thrasher – A sharp chaak!
- Sage thrasher – A dry, intense tzip!
Thrasher Songs
Male thrashers are virtuoso singers, with extensive repertoires and the ability to mimic other species. Thrasher songs are much more musical and varied than their call notes. Songs can range from deep croaks to clear whistles.
Here are some descriptions of songs for common thrasher species:
Brown Thrasher
The brown thrasher has one of the largest repertoires of any North American bird, with over 1,100 song types identified! Their songs are exuberant jumbles of short phrases, chips, whistles, trills, and mimics strung together. Some examples of common brown thrasher song elements include:
- Loud, piercing whistles
- Deep croaks
- Trills and vibrato notes
- Abrupt chips
- Mimics of other birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, and killdeer
California Thrasher
The song of the California thrasher features rich, warbling phrases often repeated twice. Their songs include:
- Flute-like phrases
- Whistled notes
- Mimics of other birds
- Some deep croaks and chatters
Sage Thrasher
Male sage thrashers sing a hurried jumble of whistled notes along with abrupt chips and trills. Some distinctive elements of their song include:
- Short whistled phrases
- Harsh trills
- Abrupt chips and croaks
Bendire’s Thrasher
Bendire’s thrashers sing a melodic series of warbled, whistled phrases often interspersed with harsh notes or mimicry. Songs can include:
- Flute-like whistles
- Harsh chatters
- Mimicry of other desert birds
When Do Thrashers Sing?
The peak singing period for thrashers is early spring through mid-summer while males establish breeding territories and attract mates. However, thrashers may sing at lower levels year-round.
Dawn is the most active time for thrasher vocalizations. Males often sing from high exposed perches or the tops of shrubs and trees at first light. Thrasher song activity typically winds down by mid-morning.
Mimicry in Thrasher Songs
One of the most intriguing features of thrasher vocalizations is their ability to mimic other species. Of North America’s thrashers, the brown thrasher is the best known mimic. Brown thrashers can imitate over 50 types of birds, as well as other animals like frogs and crickets.
Some common mimics in thrasher songs include:
- Eastern Phoebe
- Woodpeckers
- Killdeer
- Chickadees
- Warblers
- Crows
Researchers debate the purpose of vocal mimicry in thrashers. Potential explanations include:
- Defending territory – Mimics may help identify the singer as a thrasher and signal a threat to rivals
- Attracting mates – Novel sounds could help thrashers stand out to potential mates
- Individual signature – Unique mimics may act as an acoustic signature of individual birds
How to Attract Thrashers
To bring thrashers into your yard, provide brushy, thicket-like habitat they can call home. Here are some tips:
- Plant native shrubs and small trees like dogwood, sumac, hawthorn, and wild plum
- Add native vine tangles using Virginia creeper, trumpet creeper, and wild grape
- Build brush piles from pruned branches and trimmings
- Avoid trimming and clearing all shrubs and undergrowth
- Provide elevated perches like fence posts, large rocks, or small trees
Thrashers eat a varied diet of insects and berries. You can supplement natural food sources by offering mealworms, raisins, chopped fruit, and millet in ground or elevated feeders.
Conclusion
With their rich, complex songs and ability to mimic, thrashers are some of our most talented backyard vocalists. Take time to appreciate the sounds of thrashers in your neighborhood. Identifying species by call notes or distinguishing mockingbirds from thrashers will soon be easy with a little practice. By improving habitat and offering supplemental food, you can give thrashers a place to feed, breed, and serenade you all season long.
