Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-55
| Common name: |
Brown Thrasher |
| Scientific name: | Toxostoma rufum |
| Date: | 09-30-2011 |
| Time: | 8:00 am + |
| Length of time observed: | ~ 10 -15 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch, Beaver Dam Wash |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 19 |
| Elevation: | ~ 850 m |
| Distance to bird: | ~ 10 m |
| Optical equipment: | 10 x 42 binoculars |
| Weather: | clear and calm |
| Light Conditions: | |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
On the morning (~ 8:00a) of September 30, 2011, I located a Brown Thrasher
scratching in the thick underbrush bordering the east side of the orchard at
Lytle Ranch. Later that morning I ran into the Sommerfelds who had just located
a Brown Thrasher along the Beaver Dam Wash west of the parking area near the
gate into Lytle Ranch. Together we relocated the thrasher along the wash, and
later we all went back through the orchard and saw the thrasher adjacent to the
orchard. We were rather certain there must be two birds present until later
examination of photos proved it was the same thrasher in both locations (based
on missing tail feathers). Description: Medium to large thrasher with a relatively short bill and long tail. Uppersides bright rufous orange from cap to tail, and undersides bright white from chin to undertail coverts. Undersides with prominent thin dark streaking across chest and belly, but not extending to undertail coverts. Wings rufous with two distinct, thin, white wingbars. Legs long and gray. Bill black with grayish lower mandible. Eye with yellow iris and dark pupil. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | gave loud 'chuck' call note |
| Behavior: | secretive, foraging in thick brush by actively scratching in leaf litter |
| Habitat: | thick mesquites, acacia, creosote thicket adjacent to orchard and riparian area along the Beaver Dam Wash |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Long-billed Thrasher eliminated by less rufous uppersides and streaked undertail coverts. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | rfridell@redrock.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld |
| Date prepared: | 11-17-2011 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | information copied from field notes written on 09-30-2011 |