Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
A Chatty Companion
photo and story by Rick Jordahl
This songster is a year-round resident and a common and conspicuous sighting on many outings. Known for its frequent and varied vocalizations and active defense of nests and territory, the Northern mockingbird is a true entertainer found in towns, farms, roadsides, parks and thickets.
While many species of birds do imitations, the Northern Mockingbird could well be the champion. It mimics not only songs of other birds but also animals and mechanical sounds such as sirens, alarm clocks or car horns. It sings all year except sometimes for the late-summer molting season. Individual males have repertoires of 50 to 200 songs, continually adding songs throughout its life.
At 9 to 11 inches, the Northern Mockingbird is usually easy to identify with its mostly gray body and prominent, flashy white wing patches. When perched, the mocker is often heard gurgling, cackling or sputtering a seemingly endless repertoire of song throughout the day. Unmated males even sing at night.
Mockingbirds forage on the ground or in vegetation, eating insects, berries and seeds. The nest, often begun by the male and finished by the female, is usually made of twigs in a dense shrub or tree which it vigorously defends. And once I observed a Red-tailed Hawk hunting near my home, and a resident "Nomo" made such a fuss (including aerial passes at the hawk) that the raptor quickly moved on to more peaceful hunting grounds.
Mockingbirds are found in suburban and urban areas alike and often nest near homes or businesses. Usually nesting twice per year, three to five pale blue-green eggs with brownish spots are produced.
They are gregarious and curious often interacting with people. One of my favorite encounters was with a mocker that regularly sat on the door jamb just inches above a busy front entrance to my workplace , watching people come and go. Friends have also told me that a "Nomo" even flew into their home through an open patio door for a personal visit!
The Northern Mockingbird is a member of the Mimidae family and is related to the Gray Catbird and all thrashers. This popular songster is the state bird of Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Mockingbirds have a strong preference for maple, sweet gum and sycamore trees. This high profile bird prefers the topmost branches of trees or telephone poles and high points on buildings or vegetation from which they perform territorial displays.
Say hello to the popular Northern Mockingbird, and enjoy this companion of most all of your outings - a true gem to hear and to see.
A Chatty Companion
photo and story by Rick Jordahl
This songster is a year-round resident and a common and conspicuous sighting on many outings. Known for its frequent and varied vocalizations and active defense of nests and territory, the Northern mockingbird is a true entertainer found in towns, farms, roadsides, parks and thickets.
While many species of birds do imitations, the Northern Mockingbird could well be the champion. It mimics not only songs of other birds but also animals and mechanical sounds such as sirens, alarm clocks or car horns. It sings all year except sometimes for the late-summer molting season. Individual males have repertoires of 50 to 200 songs, continually adding songs throughout its life.
At 9 to 11 inches, the Northern Mockingbird is usually easy to identify with its mostly gray body and prominent, flashy white wing patches. When perched, the mocker is often heard gurgling, cackling or sputtering a seemingly endless repertoire of song throughout the day. Unmated males even sing at night.
Mockingbirds forage on the ground or in vegetation, eating insects, berries and seeds. The nest, often begun by the male and finished by the female, is usually made of twigs in a dense shrub or tree which it vigorously defends. And once I observed a Red-tailed Hawk hunting near my home, and a resident "Nomo" made such a fuss (including aerial passes at the hawk) that the raptor quickly moved on to more peaceful hunting grounds.
Mockingbirds are found in suburban and urban areas alike and often nest near homes or businesses. Usually nesting twice per year, three to five pale blue-green eggs with brownish spots are produced.
They are gregarious and curious often interacting with people. One of my favorite encounters was with a mocker that regularly sat on the door jamb just inches above a busy front entrance to my workplace , watching people come and go. Friends have also told me that a "Nomo" even flew into their home through an open patio door for a personal visit!
The Northern Mockingbird is a member of the Mimidae family and is related to the Gray Catbird and all thrashers. This popular songster is the state bird of Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Mockingbirds have a strong preference for maple, sweet gum and sycamore trees. This high profile bird prefers the topmost branches of trees or telephone poles and high points on buildings or vegetation from which they perform territorial displays.
Say hello to the popular Northern Mockingbird, and enjoy this companion of most all of your outings - a true gem to hear and to see.