The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the state bird of Texas, and also for a few other states. And true to it’s name it really can do a heck of a job of miming other birds. The one that dominates our back yard, can do a great bluejay, and others of our backyard birds. I can go out there and make random whistles and it will mock me. My wife says that I am always harrassing him. But not true, just conversing with him. He is very territorial about our/his yard. And that’s the reason we don’t have very many other visiting birds hanging around long. If we put seed out, he won’t touch it, but neither will he let any other bird have it.
My Stokes Field Guide to North American Birds describes the bird as slim ,flat-crowned, long-tailed, long-legged with a fairly thick relatively short bill. Gray above, whitish below, two white wingbars, white base to primaries creates a patch on edge of folded wing. Indistinct gray eyeline, yellowish eye. In flight, the distinctive white patches on outer wings are very visible.
Here are some of my favorite photos:
Going my way???
Fledgling Northern Mockingbird
Fledgling Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
I hope you have enjoyed these photos. Click on the images to see enlargements.
Happy Birding!!
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 