Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
The elusive brown thrasher is most likely to be glimpsed in the spring, when, from its perch, it initiates elaborate courting rituals characterized by eloquent, rapturous songs. Closely related to the Mockingbird, the Thrasher can mimic more than 1100 songs. Measuring 10-12 inches, this thin bird is rusty brown with white wing bars and whitish brown streaked underparts. Foraging on the ground, the Thrasher scares up insects, spider, and berries. (Field Guide to Backyard Birds of the South, 2008)
The Way 