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Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum
Mimidae

Boldly patterned but usually hidden in plain sight
Conspicuous against plain background
Male sings from perch; impressive repertoire of over 1,000 songs
Difficult to see in leaf litter
Flying insect in beak
Having a dust bath to maintain feathers and get rid of parasites
Same plumage in male and female
Stern-looking parent on nest
Usually 2 to 6 eggs in clutch
Garter snake common nest predator
Worm for nestlings, both parents care for young
Blind and helpless nestlings depend on parents for food and warmth
Both parent and juvenile are camouflaged in litter
Where's my lunch already?
Save some for me!

The Brown Thrasher was first observed at Salter Grove in August 2019.  It was skulking in shrubbery close to the ground along Upland Trail.  It is surprising that a bird with such a striking and vivid plumage is so difficult to see.

It is an omnivore, foraging for whatever insects its bill stirs up from the leaf litter.  It will also eat small amphibians and reptiles.  Outside the breeding season it will also eat fruits from numerous plant species.  Many of these occur at Salter Grove, including American pokeweed, black elderberry, common hackberry, fox grape, small bayberry, smooth sumac, and Virginia creeper.

Its family name Mimidae refers to the ability of member species to mimic other birds.  In this regard it is not quite as accomplished as another member of the family, the Northern Mockingbird.  However, the male Brown Thrasher is unrivaled in having a repertoire of over a thousand songs of its own!