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Northern Mockingbird
Photos by Bruce
Dayton
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ORDER:
Passeriformes
FAMILY:
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers - 10 Species)
SPECIES:
Northern Mockingbird
(Mimus polyglottos)
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Northern Mockingbird |
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The Northern Mockingbird need high perches where the male can sing and defend his territory. They aggressively defend their nests against other birds and animals, including humans, they may "dive-bomb" you. It often sings through the night, especially when the moon is full. When Mockingbirds sing, they mimic the songs of other birds, animals, insects and even machinery. |
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SIZE |
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium sized (8-11”) songbird. (similar in size to an American Robin) |
| DESCRIPTION | The Northern
Mockingbird has gray upperparts, pale gray underparts with a thin black mask
around the eyes. They are a slim bird with white wing bars and a long
gray tail edged with white.
Sexes are similar in appearance |
| NESTING | Clutch size ranges from 3-5 eggs. Incubation is 11-14 days. Nest is made of twigs or grass, lined with feathers. The nest is usually hidden in thick coniferous shrubs, brush or vines. |
| RANGE | They range throughout most of the United States. |
| HABITAT | The Northern Mockingbird prefer a habitat of open grassy areas with thickets, residential areas, farmland, roadsides, city parks, gardens. It is a common visitor in many backyards. |
| DIET | They mainly eat insects, fruits, berries and seeds. |
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Northern Mockingbird |
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Romulus Township |
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While foraging they frequently spread their wings in a peculiar two-step motion to display the white patches. |
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| Some say that flashing the white patches startles hiding insects and forces them into the open. |  |
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Mockingbird Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes |
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| INTERESTING FACTS |
| Clutch of eggs |
| A clutch of eggs refers to all the eggs produced by one bird during nesting. Clutch size will differ greatly between types of birds. It may also differ within the same type of bird due to extenuating circumstances, such as food supply and weather. |
| The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas - Florida - Tennessee - Texas - Mississippi |
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Please email with any ideas or comments concerning this web page. |
| The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit. |
NOTE: This site will be updated as time and pictures become available.
Visit Mammals of North America
Northern Mockingbird
(Mimus polyglottos)
Updated 10-20-2008
