The Long-billed Thrasher is the RGV counterpart to the more widespread Brown Thrasher — a large, long-tailed, richly streaked bird with a dramatically curved bill and brilliant orange-red eyes. A superb singer and mimic, it delivers long, complex songs from deep within dense brush. Though often heard singing loudly from the tops of shrubs, it can be maddeningly secretive when feeding on the ground beneath the vegetation.
Year-Round ResidentRGV SpecialtyMimicSecretive
About This Bird
Did You Know?
Like its relative the Northern Mockingbird, the Long-billed Thrasher is a talented mimic — males incorporate the songs of dozens of other bird species into their continuous musical performance.
Field Notes
Diet
Insects, berries, small lizards
Range
Texas RGV and NE Mexico
Nesting
Cup nest in thorny brush
Social
Usually solitary
Call
Rich, varied song; sharp "chack" alarm
Tolerance
Year-round Valley resident
Birding Tips at VNC
- Listen for rich, repetitive song phrases from brush tops — often the first clue
- Walk slowly and watch the ground beneath dense vegetation
- The orange-red eye and heavily streaked breast are distinctive
- Most vocal in spring — singing males perch more openly then
See These Birds in Person
Valley Nature Center is open Tue–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm. Admission $3–$6. Members free.
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