Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form

Rare Bird Report #: 48-B-07

Species: Brown Thrasher

Reporter: Jay Carlisle

6105 Kirkwood Rd

Boise, ID 83709

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

Other Observers: Theresa Mathis

Date Report Prepared: 6-5-07

Date Sighting Occurred: 6-3-07 (the 3^rd individual seen at Camas in a 20 day period)

Locality of Observation: Camas NWR headquarters, Jefferson Co.

Habitat: riparian woodland

Conditions: clear & calm; I used Swarovski EL 10x42 binoculars and the sun was behind me, providing good lighting; the bird was about 50 feet from me

Did you take notes? not at all

Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? no

What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult?

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.

Behavior: I was searching along the Dogleg (N of the office) for a reported Myarchus flycatcher (no luck ;-) when I saw this bird fly up into the dead branches of a large willow tree along Camas Creek. I had a 10-second or so look at this bird before it flew in behind some live branches and, having seen 2 in recent weeks, I switched my attention to looking for the flycatcher instead of following this bird. However, Theresa was also searching for the flycatcher but in a different area and, 10 or so minutes after my sighting, she saw a Brown Thrasher making its way S/SW along Camas Creek by a series of flights from tree to tree.

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, and size.

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 4 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) No.