Northern Mockingbird

Description:

I threw a large red strawberry on the ground, on the outside of my house. This large red strawberry, was visited by this adult northern mockingbird, at around 11:30 a.m. this morning. The northern mockingbird, is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. Class: Aves- Order: Passeriformes- Family: Mimidae- Genus: Mimus- Species: M. Polyglottos - This bird is mainly a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather. The northern mockingbird, has gray to brown upper feathers, and a paler belly. It's wings have white patches which are visible in flight. The northern mockingbird, is a medium-sized mimid, that has long legs and tail. Both males and females look alike. It's upper parts are colored gray, while its underparts have a white or whitish-gray color. The bill is black, with a brownish black appearance at the base. Northern mockingbirds measure from 20.5 to 28 cm ( 8.1 to 11.0 in ), including a tail almost as long as it's body. The wingspan can range from 31 to 38 cm ( 12 to 15 in ). Males tend to be slightly larger than females. The northern mockingbird is an omnivore. It eats both insects and fruit. The northern mockingbird is renowned for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, 'many-tongued mimic.

Habitat:

It is often found in open areas and forest edges, but forages in grassy land. The mockingbirds breeding range, is from Maritime provinces of Canada, westwards to British Colombia, practically the entire Continental United States, south of the northern Plains states, and the Pacific Northwest, and the majority of Mexico, to eastern Oaxaca and Veracruz. The mockingbirds habitat, varies by location, but it prefers open areas with sparse vegetation. In the eastern region, suburban and urban areas, such as parks, gardens are frequent residential areas. It has an affinity for mowed lawns with shrubs within proximity, for shade and nesting. In western regions, desert scrub, chaparral are among its preferred habitats. When foraging for food, it prefers short grass.

Notes:

I threw a large, red strawberry, on the ground, just outside of the front of my house. At around 11:30 a.m. in the morning, an adult northern mockingbird, started feeding on this large, red strawberry. The northern mockingbird, has gray to brown upper feathers, and a paler belly. It's wings have white patches, which are visible in flight. The northern mockingbird, is a medium-sized mimid, that has long legs and tail. Both males and females look alike. It's upper parts are colored gray, while its underparts have a white or whitish-gray color. The bill is black, with a brownish black appearance at the base. Northern mockingbirds, measure from 20.5 to 28 cm ( 8.1 to 11.0 in ), including a tail almost as long as it's body. The wingspan can range from 31 to 38 cm ( 12 to 15 in ). Males tend to be slightly larger than females. The northern mockingbird is an omnivore. The birds diet consists of arthopods, earthworms, berries, fruits, seeds, and seldom, lizards. Mockingbirds also eat garden fruits, such as tomatoes, apples, and berries.