How long do brown thrashers live?
The oldest Brown Thrasher on record lived to 12.8 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild brown thrashers live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 12.8 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 9 months
- Eggs per clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 9.1–11.8 in, 2.1–3.1 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 3 of 5
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Brown Thrasher can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Brown thrashers usually start breeding at about 9 months old. Each season a pair lays 3–5 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 11–14 days to hatch.
How brown thrashers compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other mockingbirds and thrashers on this site.
- Northern Mockingbird20 years
- Gray Catbird17.9 years
- Curve-billed Thrasher10.8 years
- California Thrasher6.9 years
More about brown thrashers
Frequently asked
How long do brown thrashers live?
The longest-lived Brown Thrasher on record reached 12.8 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild brown thrashers live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Brown Thrasher when it first breeds?
Usually about 9 months old.
What is the oldest Brown Thrasher ever recorded?
12.8 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Brown Thrasher raise in a year?
Pairs lay 3–5 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info