Unusual Feeding Behavior of the Brown Thrasher
Journal
Condor
Volume
50
Issue
3 (May-June)
Year
1948
Pages
133
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text
Unusual Feeding Behavior of the Brown Thrasher.-On August 24, 1947, I saw a pair of Brown Thrashers (Tozostoma rufum) along Duck Creek in Scott County, Iowa, engaged in a most unusual feeding procedure. One of these birds was wading around in a shallow portion of the creek, and the water often reached the breast feathers. This individual was seen to plunge its bill into the water and pick up something which it swallowed. Study with five-power binoculars proved that the thrasher was feeding on aquatic water striders (Hemiptera of the family Gerridae) that were common in this portion of the creek. This is the first time I have ever observed this species preying upon this type of animal life.-JAMES HODGES, Davenport, Iowa, January 28, 1948.
