Rare Bird Report 35-B-09

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM


SPECIES:  


Brown Thrasher


HOW MANY:


1


REPORTER:  


Wayne & Vanda Camacho
5036 W. Banker Dr.
Boise, ID 83714


REPORTER EMAIL:  


wayne_vanda@yahoo.com


OTHER OBSERVERS:


Vanda Camacho
Wayne Camacho
Daniel Camacho
Kristin Camacho
(address same for all Camacho's)
Kevin Coleman
5056 W. Banker Dr.
Boise, ID 83714


DATE REPORT PREPARED:  


June 1, 2009


DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:  


May 30, 2009


LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:


5036 W. Banker Dr.
Boise, ID 83714
(This is in Hidden Springs)


HABITAT:


Backyard


CONDITIONS:


Observed during four intervals.
Three intervals were for periods of 5-10 minutes and one period for a brief 1 minute.
Weather was sunny and bright, mid-80's. The bird was mostly not in direct sunlight except when seen during a period at a distance.
The bird was about 6 feet away just outside of my family room window with no need for binoculars.


DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:  


No, not at all


DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:  


Yes, during the observation


WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:


A field guide to birds east of the rockies, Roger Tory Peterson, 1980.
Familiar Birds of the northwest, Harry B. Nehls, 1981.


DESCRIPTION:  


Mockingbirds & Thrashers.
Long-tailed, strong-legged.
noted: Brown-color, breast-spots, long-tail, long beak, wing bars and yellow eye.


BEHAVIOR:  


The bird was witnessed breaking open black-oil sunflower seeds with a hammering motion of its beak. No song heard. Nearby birds included Red-winged blackbird, House finch and Mourning dove and California quail. Did not interact.


HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?


The bird was very close and unmistakable by its size, brown color, long-tail, wing bars and yellow eye.


HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?


I referenced the book "Familiar Birds of the Northwest" to see if there was a similar western species but only saw a Sage Thrasher and Catbird in the family. I am familiar with a Catbird but not a Sage Thrasher. It was clearly neither.


EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):  


Very familiar with the Brown Thrasher. From 1992-2004 my family and I lived in Woodstock, GA. The Brown Thrasher was a resident and nester in our backyard.


GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:  


 I have been birding all my life. My wife and I were married in 1981 and we both became avid birders. We both have a Birders Life List and Diary. Mine has 346 species documented.


WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:  


 Photo

These photos were cropped and resized.  Originals are available by clicking on the images.