The brown thrasher was rarely seen at feeders at the turn of the 20th century. Today, however, they are now regularly visit feeders throughout Georgia.
It is thought that this change in behavior is related to the proliferation of feeders and birdbaths. During the winter 95% of the brown thrasher‘s diet consists of small insects and other critters uncovered by scratching among dead leaves beneath trees and shrubs.
If you want to try to attract a brown thrasher to a feeder, place a feeder near thick shrubs. Although the brown thrashers that visit my yard do so primarily to drink and bathe in water offered in birdbaths, they will also eat suet. Thrashers will sometimes eat scratch feed, dried fruit, crumbs, shelled corn, and birdseed beneath feeders.
I am glad they are now coming to our feeders. I wish they would visit more often. However, we have yet to come up with a food that will attract them as sunflower seeds to cardinals.
It’s true, a Thrasher enjoyed both in the same visit to my backyard.
I am glad they are now coming to our feeders. I wish they would visit more often. However, we have yet to come up with a food that will attract them as sunflower seeds to cardinals.