Yes, the brown thrasher is found throughout the state of Wisconsin. The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is a medium-sized songbird that is a year-round resident across most of Wisconsin.
Quick Facts About Brown Thrashers in Wisconsin
Here are some key facts about brown thrashers in Wisconsin:
- Habitat: Brown thrashers prefer open woodland areas, forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, and dense thickets. They are common in rural and suburban areas.
- Range: Found throughout Wisconsin, but more common in the southern and western parts of the state.
- Migration: Most brown thrashers in Wisconsin do not migrate. They maintain permanent territories year-round.
- Nesting: Breeding pairs build nests in dense, thorny vegetation. The nests are cup-shaped and made of twigs, grass, bark strips, and roots.
- Eggs: Females typically lay 3-5 eggs. The eggs are pale blue with brown spotting.
- Diet: Brown thrashers are omnivores. They eat insects, spiders, snails, berries, seeds, and small amphibians and reptiles.
- Behavior: Skittish and shy. They hop along the ground turning over leaves to find food. Known for singing loudly from high perches.
Appearance and Identification
The brown thrasher is a medium-sized songbird, measuring around 11.5 inches in length. Here are some tips for identifying brown thrashers:
- Coloring: Rich brown upperparts with white and black spotting. Underparts are white with dark streaking on the breast and belly.
- Bill: Long, curved bill that is dark on top and pale yellow below.
- Eyes: Yellow eyes.
- Tail: Very long tail with white outer tail feathers seen in flight.
- Shape: Slim body shape. Long legs good for hopping on the ground.
- Movement: Will flick tail up and down. Makes short flights low to the ground.
The brown thrasher shares a similar appearance with the gray catbird and northern mockingbird. Key differences include the thrasher’s heavier bill, bright yellow eyes, spotting on the wings, and longer tail.
Habitat and Range
The brown thrasher inhabits open forests, forest edges, dense thickets, overgrown fields, hedgerows, and areas with dense scrub vegetation across Wisconsin. They prefer areas with lots of cover and nesting sites.
Brown thrashers can be found statewide, but are more common in southern and western Wisconsin. They are abundant in places like the Driftless Area, central forest region, and eastern savanna region. They are less common in heavily forested areas of northern Wisconsin.
Some key areas to spot brown thrashers in Wisconsin include:
- Southern grasslands
- Suburban parks and gardens
- Agricultural areas with fence rows and field edges
- Open woodlands near streams or swamps
- Savannas and prairies
- Reclaimed mining land
Brown thrashers disappear from the most exposed, northern parts of the state in winter. But most will tough out cold Wisconsin winters if there is adequate food and shelter available.
Migration and Wintering
Most brown thrashers in Wisconsin are year-round permanent residents. They maintain breeding and wintering territories in the same general area.
Northern populations may migrate short distances south in winter if food becomes scarce. But seasonal movements are generally limited throughout the state.
Brown thrashers are hardy birds. They have special feather adaptations that provide insulation in cold weather. They can survive Wisconsin winters, even in harsh northern regions, as long as they have access to food sources.
Most thrashers will stick to their breeding grounds year-round. They may move to more sheltered microclimates within their home range when it gets cold. Things like dense thickets, brush piles, evergreen groves, and ravines provide escape from the wind and snow.
Backyard feeding stations stocked with seed, suet, and berries can also help brown thrashers get through the winter months.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Brown thrashers are omnivores, feeding on both plant and animal material. Their diet includes:
- Insects: Beetles, ants, wasps, caterpillars, crickets
- Spiders and snails
- Berries: Mulberries, wild grapes, Virginia creeper, dogwood, sumac, blackberry
- Seeds and grain
- Nuts
- Fruits: Cherries, apples, citrus
- Lizards, frogs, small snakes
- NESTLINGS ARE FED INSECTS AND FRUIT
Brown thrashers spend much of their time hopping along the ground turning over leaves, bark, and debris looking for insects and other invertebrates. They also forage in low bushes and dense thickets.
During migration and winter, they rely more on berries from shrubs and trees. They supplement their diet with seeds, grains, nuts, and fruits. Backyard feeders stocked with raisins, chopped fruit, and mealworms can help attract thrashers.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season for brown thrashers in Wisconsin runs from mid-April through July. They raise one brood per season.
Courtship involves the male visiting potential nest sites and singing loudly to attract a female. Once paired, the female builds the nest using twigs, grass, bark, and roots. It takes 4-14 days to construct the nest.
Nests are placed in dense, thorny vegetation ranging from 1-15 feet off the ground. Typical sites include:
- Multiflora rose bushes
- Shrub thickets
- Briar patches
- Vines and fence tangles
- Small trees and shrubs (hawthorn, boxelder, dogwood, sumac, etc)
Females lay a clutch of 3-5 pale blue eggs with dark brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for 12-13 days. Both parents feed the hatchlings.
Young thrashers fledge from the nest about 9-13 days after hatching. They remain dependent on the parents for 2-3 weeks after leaving the nest as they learn to find food and evade predators.
Threats and Conservation
Brown thrasher numbers declined in parts of their range from the early 1900s up through the 1970s, but populations have rebounded in recent decades.
There are a few reasons thrasher populations dropped historically:
- Habitat loss as brushy farmlands were cleared
- Increased urbanization
- Pesticide use reducing insect food sources
- Brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds
But brown thrashers adapted well to living in suburbia and regrew as agricultural lands were abandoned. Their populations have increased again in many areas.
They are still vulnerable to:
- Excessive clearing of woodland edges and thickets
- Invasive shrubs like buckthorn crowding out native plants
- Use of pesticides reducing insect food sources
- Climate change threatening berry crops and insect populations
But brown thrashers remain common and widespread throughout Wisconsin. They are classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
To support brown thrashers in your area:
- Plant native berry-producing shrubs
- Allow dead wood and leaf litter to accumulate – it supports insects
- Avoid excessive use of pesticides
- Put up nest boxes with thorny protection
Fun Facts About Brown Thrashers
- The brown thrasher is the state bird of Georgia.
- They get their name from their habit of thrashing around in leaf litter while foraging.
- Brown thrashers have one of the largest song repertoires of any North American bird – with over 1000 different song variations!
- Their nests often incorporate venomous snakeskins likely to deter predators.
- Adults are very secretive and hard to spot during nesting season.
- The brown thrasher is the only thrasher species found east of Texas.
- During migration, they travel mainly at night and remain hidden during the day.
Where to See Brown Thrashers in Wisconsin
Here are some top spots around Wisconsin to observe brown thrashers:
Location | County | Habitat |
---|---|---|
Dells of Wisconsin River | Sauk | Oak savanna |
Hartman Creek State Park | Waupaca | Oak woods and prairie edges |
Allen Centennial Gardens | Dane | Hedgerows and gardens |
Central Sands Prairies | Adams | Jack pine barrens |
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge | Monroe | Successional fields |
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge | Juneau | scrub oak thickets |
Kettle Moraine State Forest | Sheboygan | Forest openings |
Some key parks, refuges, and natural areas to spot brown thrashers throughout Wisconsin include:
County | Site |
---|---|
Dane | Pheasant Branch Conservancy |
Iowa | Yellowstone Wildlife Area |
Dodge | Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area |
Douglas | Pattison State Park |
Winnebago | Point Basse State Forest |
Waukesha | Mukwonago River State Park |
Milwaukee | Grant Park |
Sauk | Avoca Prairie and Savanna |
Door | Ridges Sanctuary |
Walworth | White River State Trail |
Conclusion
The brown thrasher is a iconic songbird species found throughout Wisconsin. They prefer shrubby, open habitats and can be found statewide, especially in southern and western regions. Brown thrashers are mostly non-migratory, but northern populations may move south in winter during extreme cold and snowy conditions. They feed on insects, fruits, seeds, and grains. Breeding pairs build well-concealed nests in thorny vegetation. While they suffered declines in the 1900s from habitat loss and pesticides, brown thrasher numbers rebounded as farmlands were abandoned and the birds adapted to suburbia. They remain common across Wisconsin, but are vulnerable to excessive clearing of scrublands and climate changes. Popular spots to observe brown thrashers include protected natural areas and parks throughout the state.