Rare Bird Report #: 40-B-07
Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form
Species: Brown Thrasher
Reporter: Jay Carlisle
6105 Kirkwood Rd
Boise, ID 83709
jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu
Other Observers: Carlos Valeris, Dianne Parrott, Dave Ewoldt, Jereme Sommers (IBO field assistants); Mike Green (USFWS – Portland, OR), Rob Larrañaga (refuge manager)
Date Report Prepared: 6-2-07
Date Sighting Occurred: 5-24-07 (note that I have prepared a separate report for a BRTH seen on 5-17-07; given the 6 days that elapsed between sightings, each of which lasted only 1 day, I am inclined to think these were different individuals)
Locality of Observation: Camas NWR headquarters, Jefferson Co.
Habitat: riparian woodland
Conditions: clear, calm, and cool; I used Swarovski EL 10x42 binoculars and the sun was behind me & just rising, providing good lighting
Did you take notes? not at all
Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? after the observation
What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult?
Sibley; National Geographic
Description: A robin-sized bird with a long tail and a thick, slightly decurved bill. Upperparts rufous (reddish-brown) with 2 prominent whitish wing bars. Underside whitish with prominent dark streaking on chest and belly. Song loud and consisting of double phrases.
Behavior:
While getting out of my car before sunrise (~550 AM), I heard the song and looked up to see this bird singing from the dead upper branches of a cottonwood near the office buildings. Having heard/seen an individual of the same species exactly one week prior, I recognized the song right away. Other crewmembers were there and all were able to see the bird. It sang from this general area off and on for over 3 hours; I last saw the bird moving through some low (dead) Russian Olive branches on the S side of the canal near the E end of ‘Redstart Lane’.How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? Right away due to the rich rufous coloration, long tail, decurved bill, size, and the song.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they?
This is a very straight forward identification and the only similar-appearing species (Long-billed Thrasher) occurs only in southern Texas and Mexico. Long-billed has a more curved bill, grayer upperparts, and an orange eye (though I was unable to confirm eye color of this bird).Experience with this species (and similar species): I have observed many hundreds, if not thousands, of Brown Thrashers – especially in South Dakota (and surrounding states) and Connecticut. I have seen 3 previously in Idaho – all at Camas NWR (in 2005, 2006, & 2007; see separate reports). I have seen at least 20 Long-billed Thrashers in Mexico and Texas.
General birding experience: extensive; 14+ years in US and Latin America
Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach) Yes; Rob Larrañaga has a video clip of this thrasher (in which the song of the concurrent Wood Thrush can be heard in the background). He will send separately.