Wild About Birds - Illinois Thrushes, Mockingbirds and Thrashers!

Kingdom: Animalia - Animals are multicellular organisms that rely on other organisms for nourishment. There cells do not have cell walls. Most animals are capable of movement at least in some portion of their life cycle. Reproduction is generally sexual, but in some animals asexual reproduction may be utilized at certain times.
Phylum: Chordata - The Phylum Chordata contains the vertebrate animals. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes are included in this phylum. These animals have a notochord at some point in their development. They have a tubular nerve cord along the back. Gill slits and a tail are present at some point in their life cycle. They have an internal skeleton.
Class: Aves - Birds are the only organisms with feathers. They are endotherms, maintaining a nearly constant body temperature. They have a hard bill but no teeth. A gizzard, which functions to grind food, is present in the digestive tract. Fertilization is internal. A nest is built in which the hard-shelled eggs are deposited and incubated.
Order: Passeriformes - These are birds with adaptations for holding on to thin twigs or stems. Three of the toes on each foot face forward and one backward to help it grasp and balance on small branches.
Family: Turdidae (Thrushes) - Most of these birds have either a brown back and spotted breast as an adult or an immature. They are strong singers. The bill is slim, and the eyes are large. They eat a variety of invertebrate animals and fruits.
     eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
     mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
     Townsend’s solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
     veery (Catharus fuscescens)
     gray-cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus)
     Swainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
     hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus)
     wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
     American robin (Turdus migratorius)
     varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

Family: Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers) - These large birds are fine singers, and some are mimics. The tail is long, and the bill is long and curved downward. They feed on insects and fruits.
     gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
     brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
     sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus)
     northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)