Sounds Like a Brown Thrasher to me. Andrew Krenz (507) 317-0962 [log in to unmask] ________________________________ From: Rare Bird Alert [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Danielle McLaughlin [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 8:18 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [mou-rba] help with mystery bird ID Hello-I was wondering if anyone could suggest the identity of the amazing songster I heard yesterday. I was out cleaning the paddock when I heard an unfamiliar song--it didn't repeat or have any pattern that I could discern. At that point I started searching for it. It was quite backlit in the bright sun--but it seems to be the size and shape of a slender grackle-with a longer beak. I could just make out some stripes on the breast. The song was amazing-reminded me of the lyre bird-it kept changing, and I'm certain I heard it say "ribbit" as if it was mimicking a frog! After perusing the MOU birds of Minnesota list I have settled on brown thrasher as a possible identity for this bird. When it flew away I saw a reddish brown back and wings, low, swooping flight like a woodpecker. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm new to Minnesota so this is just a guess! Danielle McLaughlin Washington County