Bird of the week 2023 | Week 45

Brown thrasher [MichaelWarren.com]

Brown thrasher

This fierce looking bird in the blackbird family is typically found thrashing about inside hedges and bushes where it can be hard to spot. This one was coaxed out of a hedge of backyard ligustrums to enjoy a bird bath. A year-round resident of Marion County, they are most easily seen in the spring when males take up high perches to belt out one of the more than a thousand songs in their repertoire including “covers” of other familiar bird songs.