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Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

Bird · family Mimidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Brown Thrasher
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
44 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
10 years[4]

The Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is a bird in the family Mimidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Brown Thrasher a global rank of G5 and a national rank of N5, and both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. Some states rank it lower than the national rank, and the state ranks are listed in the table on this page[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Brown Thrasher lives

NatureServe lists the Brown Thrasher as native in 44 US states and territories[3]. These run from Maine and Massachusetts in the northeast to Florida and Texas in the south, and west to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Arizona[3]. The list also includes the District of Columbia[3]. The states with the most GBIF observation records are North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and South Carolina, but those counts follow how much people report, not how many birds live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4BWIVermont: native, state rank S4BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S3NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S3BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S5BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5BSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4B,S3N,S5MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S3B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S3BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S4BRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: native, state rank S2NUTColorado: native, state rank S4CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNMOKentucky: native, state rank S4BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S4BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5BMDDelaware: native, state rank S4BDEArizona: native, state rank S1NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S5BKSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3B,S3NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5B,S5NMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (44 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS3BVulnerable (breeding)
DelawareS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS3B,S3NVulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS5BSecure (breeding)
KentuckyS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
MarylandS5BSecure (breeding)
MassachusettsS4Apparently Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS5Secure
New HampshireS3Vulnerable
New JerseyS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS3BVulnerable (breeding)
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS4B,S3N,S5MApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding), Secure (migrant)
Rhode IslandS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5BSecure (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
UtahS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
VermontS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
WisconsinS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
WyomingS5BSecure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records woodland with hardwood trees, shrubland, old fields, suburban areas and orchards, and areas beside rivers as habitat types[11]. The bird uses thickets and bushy spots at the edge of forests and in clearings, and it also uses shrubby areas and gardens[12]. During migration and winter it also turns up in scrub[12]. It nests on the ground under a small bush or up in a tree, shrub or vine[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Brown Thrasher eats insects, other small invertebrates and small fruits, and it looks for food on or near the ground[13][14]. One diet estimate is 50% invertebrates, 30% fruit and 20% seeds[15]. NatureServe gives a typical length of 29 cm (11 in)[16]. It gives a typical weight of 69 g[17]. A typical clutch size is 4[18]. Both parents tend the young, which leave the nest in 9 to 13 days[19]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 10 years 7 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 29 cm (11 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 69 g (2.4 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[20] 12.8 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 10 years 7 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[21] 13 days
Female maturity[22] 274 days (about 0.8 years)
Food habits[14] Invertivore, Frugivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[15]

  • 50% invertebrates
  • 30% fruit
  • 20% seeds

When to look for it

The Brown Thrasher is active in the daytime[24]. Birds that breed north of the southeastern US move south for winter, and some populations stay put or move only short distances[25][23]. GBIF records in the US peak in April, May and June, with May the highest month[26]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 105,725 recordsJanFebruary: 142,536 recordsFebMarch: 207,835 recordsMarApril: 631,386 recordsAprMay: 775,128 recordsMayJune: 382,598 recordsJunJuly: 220,484 recordsJulAugust: 132,977 recordsAugSeptember: 272,471 recordsSepOctober: 230,735 recordsOctNovember: 81,792 recordsNovDecember: 88,122 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January105,725
February142,536
March207,835
April631,386
May775,128
June382,598
July220,484
August132,977
September272,471
October230,735
November81,792
December88,122

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Brown Thrasher as present in 162 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 138 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Brown Thrasher endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it Secure (G5 globally and N5 in the US), and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].
Where does the Brown Thrasher live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 44 US states and territories, from Maine to Florida and west to Montana and Arizona[3].
What does the Brown Thrasher eat?
It eats insects, other invertebrates and small fruits, and it also takes some small amphibians and reptiles[13].
How big is a Brown Thrasher?
NatureServe records a typical length of 29 cm (11 in)[16]. It records a typical weight of 69 g[17].
How long does a Brown Thrasher live?
The oldest known banded bird was at least 10 years 7 months old[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Brown Thrasher is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Brown Thrasher: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Brown Thrasher as native in 44 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Brown Thrasher from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 10 years 7 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) is a bird in the family Mimidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Brown Thrasher is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Brown Thrasher (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Brown Thrasher: North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Brown Thrasher: Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Old field, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Brown Thrasher. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Brown Thrasher. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% invertebrates, 30% fruit, 20% seeds. EltonTraits 1.0
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 29 cm (11 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 69 g (2.4 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Brown Thrasher. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 12.8 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 13 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 274 days (about 0.8 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Brown Thrasher: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Brown Thrasher. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Brown Thrasher in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Brown Thrasher as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.