Juvenile Brown Thrashers in Regina SK backyard

A few years ago, when a Brown Thrasher nested near our backyard and brought fledglings here to feed, I noticed the hazy blue of the young Brown Thrashers' eyes.

This week, two juvenile Brown Thrashers have been visiting. These adult-sized birds have typical Thrasher markings, along with slightly downy feathers and cloudy baby eyes that are now shifting to gray on the way to adult Brown Thrasher gold.

Juvenile Brown Thrasher - note the blueish eyes. So Thrashers must have nested nearby again.  © SB

I've read that Brown Thrashers are "usually hidden in dense brush," "uncommon, solitary, and inconspicuous" (Sibley), and yes my backyard is a little overgrown, with a heavy vines on latticework and a robust tomato patch.

But when Brown Thrashers visit, they hop along in the open grass, or perch high in plain sight in the neighbour's tree to recite their loud, long catalogue of songs.


What is this? A Juvenine Brown Thrasher.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: July 12, 2015.

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Brown Thrasher at the Backyard Feeder

Brown Thrasher on the lilac tree   © SB

There are Brown Thrashers in our
Regina, SK, neighbourhood again this year — shy, beautiful singers that perch high on tree-tops and chatter, chant, whistle and generally carry on.

The Brown Thrashers are also attracted to the suet that was put out to draw in the woodpeckers that never arrived.

(The robins also like this suet, so it's not going to waste... Still, it would be great to see a woodpecker here...)

The Brown Thrashers are fairly regular visitors — we see them flit through the yard several times a week — so are likely nesting somewhere nearby. (I hope they bring their fledgling thrashers to visit, too.)

Brown Thrasher at the suet feeder.    © SB

What is this? A Brown Thrasher.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 22, 2014.

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Brown Thrashers: Will they nest in my backyard again?

Brown Thrashers are the First of the Season bird of the day in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard. I saw a flash of rust-brown in the lilac trees, and then it flew away — but my luck held and it soon came back to peck at seeds strewn by House Sparrows on the ground.

Last year, a pair of Brown Thrashers nested somewhere nearby. For several days, we saw an adult keeping watch on the top of the garage, and then one morning, an adult walked the fledgling across the yard to the seeds. So cool to see the young birds greed and grey eyes! (The adults's eyes are stunning gold.)

I hope there is a nest again. And if there is, I hope I see the young Brown Thrashers this year, too.

Brown Thrasher - look at those elegant legs!   © SB

Brown Thrasher, posing for backyard photo © SB

I'd love to know what the Brown Thrasher is looking at... © SB

What is this? A Brown Thrasher.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 17, 2013.

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Fledgling Brown Thrashers in the Backyard

Long-tailed, beautiful secretive bird, usually in hiding.
(Carrying a scavenged seed.)© SB

Regina, Saskatchewan: For the past few days, we've caught glimpses of adult Brown Thrashers in our yard, foraging under the bird feeders.

Yesterday, two fledgling Brown Thrashers also appeared.

I don't know where their nest was — perhaps in the bushes between our garage and the neighbour's yard, where they often seemed to hover. 

At least one adult was with the young Brown Thrashers — perhaps both were. But the birds rarely stayed still and I saw only one adult with them at a time. 

AllAboutBirds calls the Brown Thrasher "a large, skulking bird of thickets and hedgerows", and says they have "one of the largest song repertoire of any North American bird." 

These Brown Thrashers weren't singing, but only demanding bugs and nuts (the young), and issuing reprimands (the adult/s).

Brown Thrashers are beautiful, with rust-coloured feathers and golden eyes. At least, the adults' eyes look golden; under frequent heavy cloud, the fledglings' eyes looked much more hazy, almost blue. 

Today, I've heard and seen no sign of them. I guess the fledglings' wings are stronger, and they've flown.  

(For the record, I stayed inside and took these pictures through the window in dim light between bouts of rain. And yes, this part of my yard does have a dandelion or two...) 

Adult Brown Thrasher feeds one of the fledglings.  © SB 

The demands of parenthood...
(The fledgling at left, at least, has a seed) © SB

Fledgling Brown Thrasher.  This guy could fly a little
and also spent time in the lilac branches and perched
on garden stakes. But mostly, he ran and hopped. © SB 

What are these? Brown Thrashers

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo date: July 15, 2012.  

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