(Some deleted text replaced. Subspecies. User template. References) |
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;[[:Category:Mimus|Mimus]] polyglottos | ;[[:Category:Mimus|Mimus]] polyglottos | ||
| − | [[Image:Northern_Mockingbird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Joe A. <br/> | + | [[Image:Northern_Mockingbird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Joe+A.|Joe A.}} <br />[[Texas]], [[USA]], Spring]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
*Gray above, white below | *Gray above, white below | ||
*Black flight feathers with large white patches that flash in flight | *Black flight feathers with large white patches that flash in flight | ||
*White outer tail feathers | *White outer tail feathers | ||
| − | *Slim white eye-line<br/> | + | *Slim white eye-line<br /> |
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
May be confused with a Shrike (Northern or Loggerhead), but note different body shape, bill shape, and mask. | May be confused with a Shrike (Northern or Loggerhead), but note different body shape, bill shape, and mask. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | + | '''Breeds''' commonly throughout most of the [[USA]] but absent from the north-west and north-central states, also breeds sparsely in south-east [[Canada]]. | |
| + | Interior populations are '''migratory''' wintering in the southern USA, on the east coast resident from [[Maine]] southwards. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Casual vagrant north of range. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Introduced to [[Hawaii]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the [[Western Palearctic]] recorded in [[Britain]], in [[Cornwall]], August 1982 and [[Essex]], May 1988, and at Schiermonnikoog in the [[Netherlands]] in October 1988 and another in the Netherlands in March 2001. These birds may have had a captive origin and others seen in [[Europe]] are generally considered to relate to escapes including one or two further British reports. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Polytypic. Consists of three subspecies. | + | Polytypic. Consists of three subspecies: |
| − | + | *''M. p. leucopterus'': | |
| + | :*South-western [[Canada]] to southern [[Baja California]] and south-western [[Mexico]] (Oaxaca) | ||
| + | *''M. p. polyglottos'': | ||
| + | :*Eastern [[Canada]] to central, eastern and south-eastern [[US]] | ||
| + | *''M. p. orpheus'': | ||
| + | :*[[Bahamas]] and [[Greater Antilles]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Woodland edges, copses and hedgerows, very common in suburban gardens and also found in many city parks.<br/> | Woodland edges, copses and hedgerows, very common in suburban gardens and also found in many city parks.<br/> | ||
In winter, maintains a small territory around patches of fruiting shrubs/trees that it defends from other birds. | In winter, maintains a small territory around patches of fruiting shrubs/trees that it defends from other birds. | ||
| + | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | As an intelligent and resourceful bird that is at home in a variety of habitats and can coexist with human settlement, this species is not likely to be endangered in any forseeable future. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | These birds forage on the ground or in vegetation and fly down from a perch to capture food. Diet includes insects, berries and seeds. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | They build a twig nest in a dense shrub or tree.<br /> | ||
| − | + | It agressively defends its nest and territories from all encroachement, and will attack much larger animals and even humans who come too near. | |
| − | + | ====Vocalisation==== | |
| − | + | This species name is a result of its many and varied vocalizations, and its ability to mimic other bird calls and sounds of many types. Particularly at dawn it produces a veritable concert of songs, often not repeating the same pattern for a considerable period. | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | This habit of singing longest and loudest at dawn leads some people to resent the Mockingbird, and even attempt to eliminate it from their environments. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Mimus+polyglottos}} | {{GSearch|Mimus+polyglottos}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Mimus]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Mimus]] | ||
Revision as of 23:38, 27 November 2009
- Mimus polyglottos
Identification
- Gray above, white below
- Black flight feathers with large white patches that flash in flight
- White outer tail feathers
- Slim white eye-line
Similar Species
May be confused with a Shrike (Northern or Loggerhead), but note different body shape, bill shape, and mask.
Distribution
Breeds commonly throughout most of the USA but absent from the north-west and north-central states, also breeds sparsely in south-east Canada.
Interior populations are migratory wintering in the southern USA, on the east coast resident from Maine southwards.
Casual vagrant north of range.
Introduced to Hawaii.
In the Western Palearctic recorded in Britain, in Cornwall, August 1982 and Essex, May 1988, and at Schiermonnikoog in the Netherlands in October 1988 and another in the Netherlands in March 2001. These birds may have had a captive origin and others seen in Europe are generally considered to relate to escapes including one or two further British reports.
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of three subspecies:
- M. p. leucopterus:
- South-western Canada to southern Baja California and south-western Mexico (Oaxaca)
- M. p. polyglottos:
- M. p. orpheus:
Habitat
Woodland edges, copses and hedgerows, very common in suburban gardens and also found in many city parks.
In winter, maintains a small territory around patches of fruiting shrubs/trees that it defends from other birds.
Behaviour
As an intelligent and resourceful bird that is at home in a variety of habitats and can coexist with human settlement, this species is not likely to be endangered in any forseeable future.
Diet
These birds forage on the ground or in vegetation and fly down from a perch to capture food. Diet includes insects, berries and seeds.
Breeding
They build a twig nest in a dense shrub or tree.
It agressively defends its nest and territories from all encroachement, and will attack much larger animals and even humans who come too near.
Vocalisation
This species name is a result of its many and varied vocalizations, and its ability to mimic other bird calls and sounds of many types. Particularly at dawn it produces a veritable concert of songs, often not repeating the same pattern for a considerable period.
This habit of singing longest and loudest at dawn leads some people to resent the Mockingbird, and even attempt to eliminate it from their environments.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Northern Mockingbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Northern_Mockingbird
