Alabama, IQ18. 



87 



BROWN THRASHER 



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FEW birds excel the brown thrasher in sweetness of song, but it 

 is so shy that its notes are not heard often enough to be appre- 

 ciated. Its favorite time for singing is in early morning, when, 

 perched on the top of some tall bush or low tree, it gives an exhibi- 

 tion of vocal powers which would do credit to a mockingbird. In- 



BROWN THRASHER. LENGTH, ABOUT llVa INCHES 



deed where the latter bird is abundant, the thrasher is sometimes 

 known as the sandy mocker. 



The brown thrasher breeds throughout the United State east 

 of the Great Plains, and winters in South Atlantic and Gulf States. 

 It occasionally visits the garden or orchard, but nests in swamps or 

 in groves standing upon low ground, and sometimes builds in a pile 

 of brush at a distance from trees. On account of its more retiring 

 habits it is not so conspicuous as the robin, though it may be equally 

 abundant. 



The food of the thrasher consists of both fruit and insects. An 

 examination of 366 stomachs showed 37.38 per cent vegetable and 

 62.63 per cent animal food, the latter practically all insects. 



