Northern Mockingbird

Description:

The mockingbird pictured in this spotting is a juvenile. It is gray and white in color with a spotted breast. The adult Northern Mockingbird is a slender medium sized bird. They are gray/brown and white in color and have two white wingbars. They have long tails and a black bill. Ref: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird...

Habitat:

Habitat: urban and suburban areas, forest edges and open land at low elevations, grassy bushy areas, and thickets. It inhabits most states in the continental United States, and can be found throughout Mexico. Nest: The male mockingbird begins the construction of the nest and females complete the nest by adding material to the cup. This nest was about 15-20 feet high. Nesting materials include but are not limited to dead twigs, grasses, leaves, rootlets, moss, and trash. Northern Mockingbirds have 2-3 broods per year with a clutch of 2-6 eggs. Predators include: owls, hawks, jays, kites, snakes, cats, and squirrels. Diet: The Northern Mockingbirds summer diet includes insects such as beetles, earth worms, moths, caterpillars, and spiders to name a few. Their winter diet includes fruits and berries. Ref: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird...

Notes:

A student and I were watching a mockingbird that was near our playground when we noticed it had an insect in its' mouth. We kept a close eye on it and noticed it flew to a nest that is in a tree right off of our playground. When we went out the next day to observe we could see the yellow bills of the babies. The next day I was able to capture a few shots of one of the fledglings as it sat on a branch near the nest. Although I was not very close when I took the pictures I was surprised that the parents did not come around squawking as they are very protective parents. I believe one of the other fledglings was on the ground and the parents were tending to its' care. Fun Facts: Between the 18th and early 20th centuries people sold and bought these birds as cage birds which limited their numbers in certain areas of its' range. Male Northern Mockingbirds can learn approximately 200 songs in their lifetime. The oldest Northern Mockingbird on record was just shy of 15 years old and was found in Texas. Ref: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird...