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Topic Categories: Birding • Education • Mystery Birds • Ornithology • Photography • Teaching
Posted on: July 11, 2009 9:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, photographed at Paul Rushing Park, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 28 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with tsn-pz camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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Comments
Carolyn says it is a Carolina wren. I have no idea how she knows this.
Posted by: Russell | July 11, 2009 11:11 AM
I'm getting more of a brown thrasher feeling. I'm basing that on the color, mainly, but the streaking on the sides, the wingbars, and the tail proportion all look right, too.
Posted by: John Callender | July 11, 2009 11:24 AM
Brown Thrasher. It's tail, for one, is much to long to be a wren. That nice brown and the streaked breast are good indications, too.
Plus I'm watching one right outside my window. That helps a bit.
Posted by: Lia | July 11, 2009 1:58 PM
Yes, a brown thrasher(Toxostoma rufum). Very good pic. Would have been superb if the thrasher had cooperated and turned his head to reveal his yellow eyes and curved bill. Rufous back, white wing bars, posture and long tail are great clues.
Posted by: L | July 11, 2009 3:17 PM
One of my favorites. I'm too woodsy for the mockingbird's taste, so I have to make do with catbirds and thrashers. rb
Posted by: arby | July 11, 2009 5:06 PM
Brown thrasher: Chestnut back & wings, heavily streaked breast.
Posted by: Monado | July 11, 2009 7:49 PM
Ditto the above, with an extra mark -- the undertail coverts are unmarked. A Long-billed Thrasher (possible in some parts of Texas) would have a darker brown back and streaks on the undertail coverts.
Posted by: psweet | July 11, 2009 8:19 PM
Brown Thrasher. Paul Rushing Park is out of the normal range of Long-billed. Psweet, I didn't know about the streaked undertail coverts of the Long-billed, thanks.
Posted by: Rob | July 12, 2009 8:07 PM
I meant to say "Brown Thrasher for the reasons mentioned above. Plus, Paul Rushing ... "
Posted by: Rob | July 12, 2009 8:11 PM
Rob -- thanks for the geographical info. I saw Texas, and without any further info, figured I'd cover all the bases.
Posted by: psweet | July 13, 2009 10:04 AM