northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 9 inches

• Slender bill

• Gray head and upperparts

• Yellow eye

• White underparts

• Long black tail with white outer tail feathers

• White wing bars

• White patch in wing, especially visible in flight

• Black legs

• Sexes similar

• Juvenile has spotted breast

• Most often found in scrubby habitats and in urban areas

Similar species:

Shrikes are similar but have black masks and thicker bills. Sage thrasher
is similar to juvenile mockingbird but lacks white wing patches and has
darker, more extensive spotting below. Rare Bahama mockingbird (stray
to Florida) has streaked flanks and lacks wing patches.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Permanent resident
Breeding Habitat: Urban
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-5
Length of Incubation: 12-13 days
Days to Fledge: 11-13
Number of Broods: 2, occasionally 3 or 4
Diet: Exclusively insects and fruit

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August C
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

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