Montana Field Guide

The Brown Thrasher is a large, boldly patterned thrasher, about 235-305 mm long and up to 89 g body mass. Adults have rufous upperparts; whitish underparts coarsely streaked with blackish; long, rufous tail, 2 whitish wing-bars; medium-length, straightish bill; and a yellowish eye. Legs are long, and heavy characteristic of a ground foraging bird. Sexes are alike in size and coloration (Cavitt, John F. and Haas, Carola A., The Birds of North America, No. 557, 2000).

Inhabits thickets and hedgerows in deciduous forest clearings and forest edge in the eastern U.S. Farther west, within the Great Plains, it commonly breeds in fence-rows, shelterbelts, and woody draws (Cavitt and Haas 2000).

During breeding season individuals feed chiefly on insects and other arthropods, but by late summer rely more heavily on fruit and berries (Cavitt and Haas 2000).

Pairs usually nest low in a tree or shrub, occasionally on the ground. Breeding season May and June. Eggs are subelliptical or long oval in shape. Pale blue, pale greenish blue or white in color and speckled over entire egg. Clutch size varies 3 to 5 eggs (Cavitt and Haas 2000). Nest reported on Jun 22. Egg and nest dates probably similar to those reported for Colorado and Wyoming: Jun.