’Most every day.
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
This long-tailed bird (with the rufous-brown color, white wing bars, curved bill, striped breast and yellow eyes) welcomes spring with a loud and cheerful song. You will see him sitting at the top of some tall tree, throwing all his efforts into loud, clear notes. You will notice a wide variety of tones but all seem to run to couplets and triplets, not like the steady tempo of the Mockingbird or the more subdued tones of the Catbird, both of which are near relatives.
The next time you see him, he is likely to be under a hedge or around a brushy area, busily engaged in moving any leaves or other rubbish which might hide a lurking insect. Another favorite habitat is along the less-traveled country roads, where he always seems to think he should be on the opposite side and makes a quick, running flight to get there.
Brown Thrashers are found in suitable habitat anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains and sometimes spend the winter far north of their usual southern range. Sennett’s Thrasher is similar but is found in the southern parts of Texas. Brown Thrashers are often called “Brown Thrushes,” but thrushes have short tails, a different type of song, and prefer a different habitat.
You pair your notes,
Then triple some,
Which lets us know
That spring has come.