Many species of perching birds perform an activity called "anting", where they basically piss off an ant hill and let the ants crawl all over them. Scientists think the ants' formic acid either cleans the feathers or rids the birds of parasites.

There's not too much that looks like a brown thrasher so it was probably that.

Cool,....are you familiar with Northern Flickers,...think these are eating ants.

I agree with Konrad. If the bird was actually eating a bunch of the ants, it was probably a Flicker.

Good morning.

I did a bunch of googling and compared the two, and it was definitely a brown thrasher. I hope he doesn't come back, as I read they have even been known to attack a human to protect their nest.

I had no idea we had so many different types of birds until I borrowed binoculars :)

Thanks everyone :)

Nuts, if you here him sing you will change your mind, they are usually secretive and don't hang around if you watch them, song is better than the best that a catbird can do. Will have it's nest in open scrub some where, not sure if they would nest in town.

We have 2 pairs of brown thrashers in our yard this year. I love them. They have the most hilarious song, it is like they are going through a big list of song clips from other birds, rapid-fire, one after another. Some mornings and evenings they just don't shut up. :D

I think they are good birds..they eat lots of bugs. Haven't had any swoop at us yet and I'm sure we walk fairly close to their nest at times!

Well then, I guess he can stay if he decides to :)