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Difference between revisions of "Tropical Mockingbird" - BirdForum Opus

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;Mimus gilvus
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[[Image:Tropical_Mockingbird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Subspecies ''antillarum''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Richard+Fray|Richard Fray}}<br />Port Elizabeth, Bequia, [[Grenadines]], February 2004]]
[[Image:Tropical_Mockingbird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Richard Fray<br />Locality: Port Elizabeth, Bequia, Grenadines.]]
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;[[:Category:Mimus|Mimus]] gilvus
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==Identification==
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[[Image:Dabs - Tropical Mockingbird juvenile .JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, subspecies ''tobagensis''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|DABS|DABS}}<br />Caroni, [[Trinidad]], 17 November 2016]]
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Total length 23-26 cm (9-10 in). A medium-sized mockingbird with a long tail.<br />
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It is overall grey with whitish underparts. The wings are blackish with whitish edging often forming two narrow wing-bars. The tail is mainly blackish, but the outer [[Topography#Tails|rectrices]] are broadly white-tipped (best seen when the tail is spread or from below). The whitish eye-brow is border below by the dusky lores and faint post-ocular streak/spot.
  
==Identification==
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Females are slightly smaller than males.<br />
Total length 23-26 cm (9-10 in). A medium-sized mockingbird with a long tail. It is overall grey with whitish underparts. The wings are blackish with whitish edging often forming two narrow wing-bars. The tail is mainly blackish, but the outer rectrices are broadly white-tipped (best seen when the tail is spread or from below). The whitish eye-brow is border below by the dusky lores and faint post-ocular streak/spot. Females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles resemble adults, but are generally browner and with dusky streaking to the flanks (some adults retain slight streaking to the lower flanks). The numerous races vary mainly in size and plumage tone, e.g. blackness of wings and/or strenght of white eye-brow.
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Juveniles resemble adults, but are generally browner and with dusky streaking to the flanks (some adults retain slight streaking to the lower flanks).
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====Variations====
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The numerous races vary mainly in size and plumage tone, e.g. blackness of wings and/or strength of white eye-brow.
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====Similar Species====
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In the limited area of overlap in southern [[Mexico]], it can be separated from the very similar [[Northern Mockingbird]] by the lack of a whitish patch near the base of the [[Topography#Wings|primaries]].
  
In the limited area of overlap in southern Mexico, it can be separated from the very similar [[Northern Mockingbird]] by the lack of a whitish patch near the base of the primaries. The voices of the Tropical and the Northern Mockingbird are virtually inseparable. In the coastal regions of Brazil the Tropical Mockingbird overlaps with the [[Chalk-browed Mockingbird]], which is browner and has a stronger post-ocular streak/spot.
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The voices of the Tropical and the Northern Mockingbird are virtually inseparable. In the coastal regions of [[Brazil]] the Tropical Mockingbird overlaps with the [[Chalk-browed Mockingbird]], which is browner and has a stronger post-ocular streak/spot.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
It is widespread from southern [[Mexico]] and the Yucatán Peninsula, south through [[Central America]], to northern South America ([[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], far northern [[Brazil]], far northern [[Ecuador]] and the [[Guianas]]), and coastal [[Brazil]]. It also occus in the [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Trinidad]] & [[Tobago]], [[San Andrés Island]], (off E. [[Nicaragua]]) and [[Cozumel Island]].
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[[Image:TropicalMockingbird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|IVANHOE|Iván Gabaldón}}<br />Mexican Caribbean, 2011]]
 
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It is widespread from southern [[Mexico]] and the Yucatán Peninsula, south through [[Central America]], to northern South America ([[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], far northern [[Brazil]], far northern [[Ecuador]] and the [[Guianas]]), and coastal [[Brazil]]. It also occus in the [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Trinidad]] & [[Tobago]], San Andrés Island, (off E. [[Nicaragua]]) and Cozumel Island.
  
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The population in [[Panama]] seems to have originated from escaped/released birds originating in [[Colombia]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
It has been suggested that the subspecies ''magnirostris'' (from San Andrés Is.) and ''antelius'' (from coastal Brazil) should be regarded as separate species. Hybrids between the closely related Tropical and Northern Mockingbird have been reported from Mexico.
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Hybrids between the closely related Tropical and Northern Mockingbird have been reported from Mexico.
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====Subspecies====
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This is a [[Dictionary_P-S#P|polytypic]] species, consisting of ten subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''M. g. gracilis'': Southern [[Mexico]] (eastern Oaxaca) to [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[El Salvador]] and western [[Nicaragua]]
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*''M. g. leucophaeus'': Humid tropical south-eastern Mexico, Cozumel Island, Isla Mujeres and [[Belize]]
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*''M. g. antillarum'': [[Martinique]], [[St. Lucia]], [[St. Vincent]], the [[Grenadines]] and [[Grenada]] but seemingly has spread further north to [[Antigua]] and [[Barbuda]]
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*''M. g. tobagensis'': [[Trinidad]] and [[Tobago]]
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*''M. g. rostratus'': [[Netherlands Antilles]] and adjacent islands off northern coast of [[Venezuela]]
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*''M. g. tolimensis'': southern [[Nicaragua]] south to western [[Ecuador]] and central [[Colombia]]; range has expanded both north and south out of Colombia since the 1990s
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*''M. g. melanopterus'': Coastal northern Colombia to Venezuela, [[Guyana]] and extreme northern [[Brazil]]
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*''M. g. gilvus'': [[French Guiana]] and [[Suriname]]
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*''M. g. antelius'': Coastal eastern [[Brazil]] (Par  to Rio de Janeiro)
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*''M. g. magnirostris'': Isla San Andres (western Caribbean Sea)
  
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It has been suggested that the subspecies ''magnirostris'' (from San Andrés Is.) and ''antelius'' (from coastal Brazil) should be regarded as separate species.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
It occurs in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including fields, scrub, savanna, farmland and parks. Often near humans. It avoids dense forest. Race ''antelius'' is restricted to restinga (a type of coastal scrub).  
 
It occurs in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including fields, scrub, savanna, farmland and parks. Often near humans. It avoids dense forest. Race ''antelius'' is restricted to restinga (a type of coastal scrub).  
  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Omnivorous. Has been recorded taking fruits, berries, insects and bird eggs. It is bold, aggressive and  territorial. Typically lives in small groups, comprising a monogamous pair, and their offspring from earlier broods, which help raising new broods.
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It is bold, aggressive and  territorial.
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====Diet====
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[[Dictionary_M-O#O|Omnivorous]]. Has been recorded taking fruits, berries, insects and bird eggs.
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====Breeding====
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Typically lives in small groups, comprising a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monogamous]] pair, and their offspring from earlier broods, which help raising new broods.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#{{Ref-GillDonskerRasmussen22V13.2}}#Birdforum Member observations
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{{ref}}
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Mimus+gilvus}}
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{{GSearch|"Mimus gilvus" {{!}} "Tropical Mockingbird"}}
[[Category:Birds]]
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{{GS-checked}}1
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{{VSearch|"Mimus gilvus" {{!}} "Tropical Mockingbird"}}
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Mimus]]

Latest revision as of 00:01, 16 May 2024

Subspecies antillarum
Photo © by Richard Fray
Port Elizabeth, Bequia, Grenadines, February 2004
Mimus gilvus

Identification

Juvenile, subspecies tobagensis
Photo © by DABS
Caroni, Trinidad, 17 November 2016

Total length 23-26 cm (9-10 in). A medium-sized mockingbird with a long tail.
It is overall grey with whitish underparts. The wings are blackish with whitish edging often forming two narrow wing-bars. The tail is mainly blackish, but the outer rectrices are broadly white-tipped (best seen when the tail is spread or from below). The whitish eye-brow is border below by the dusky lores and faint post-ocular streak/spot.

Females are slightly smaller than males.
Juveniles resemble adults, but are generally browner and with dusky streaking to the flanks (some adults retain slight streaking to the lower flanks).

Variations

The numerous races vary mainly in size and plumage tone, e.g. blackness of wings and/or strength of white eye-brow.

Similar Species

In the limited area of overlap in southern Mexico, it can be separated from the very similar Northern Mockingbird by the lack of a whitish patch near the base of the primaries.

The voices of the Tropical and the Northern Mockingbird are virtually inseparable. In the coastal regions of Brazil the Tropical Mockingbird overlaps with the Chalk-browed Mockingbird, which is browner and has a stronger post-ocular streak/spot.

Distribution

Photo © by Iván Gabaldón
Mexican Caribbean, 2011

It is widespread from southern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula, south through Central America, to northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, far northern Brazil, far northern Ecuador and the Guianas), and coastal Brazil. It also occus in the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago, San Andrés Island, (off E. Nicaragua) and Cozumel Island.

The population in Panama seems to have originated from escaped/released birds originating in Colombia.

Taxonomy

Hybrids between the closely related Tropical and Northern Mockingbird have been reported from Mexico.

Subspecies

This is a polytypic species, consisting of ten subspecies[1]:

It has been suggested that the subspecies magnirostris (from San Andrés Is.) and antelius (from coastal Brazil) should be regarded as separate species.

Habitat

It occurs in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including fields, scrub, savanna, farmland and parks. Often near humans. It avoids dense forest. Race antelius is restricted to restinga (a type of coastal scrub).

Behaviour

It is bold, aggressive and territorial.

Diet

Omnivorous. Has been recorded taking fruits, berries, insects and bird eggs.

Breeding

Typically lives in small groups, comprising a monogamous pair, and their offspring from earlier broods, which help raising new broods.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Birdforum Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1



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