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:
I hope you have enjoyed these photos. Click on the images to see enlargements.
Happy Birding!!
Hi Sharon, Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. A great source to find about your birds is http://www.allaboutbirds.org. It is the site of the Texas Ornithological Society. I’m glad to have someone in my vicinity reading my posts.
Bob Zeller
I am weather bound at home in Bronte as you are in San Angelo. I have
been feeding and watching the birds out my window for three days now.
As I only know the sparrow and the cardinal…I have been surfing the
net to find out what the others are. Can you tell me where to find
information and pictures of the backyard birds in our area? (I have
enjoyed surfing this site by the way). Thanks
Another bird I have never seen and yet have now seen it better than I’ve ever seen any of our native species through your excellent photographs. I love that you have a ‘relationship’ with your resident mocker. 🙂
Thanks, Cindy. You’re one of my best fans. 🙂
Beautiful shots of the Mocking Birds, my favourite being the first, very expressive!! I like you little bits of information about them, especially for us non-birders 🙂
They are very interesting birds around here, they seems to never stop flying from one place to another or looking for food in the weeds.
Love your pictures of them.
Great shots Bob!
Thanks a bunch, Sheila
Bob…thanks for the little touch of Texas to brighten up my day!
Toby
You’re welcome, Toby. 🙂
Bob, you know I just love that first shot with the caption you put on it. 🙂
Thank you, Rose
I just think that first shot is pretty amazing because of the wing formation. I don’t know if that’s natural or if he was simply stretching, or what. But, it seems to me (one who knows nothing about birding) to be pretty unique. At any rate, I just love looking at your bird photography, Bob! Another great job!
Yes, he had been at the little pond, and he was just hopping and stretching. My fast lens just happened to catch the right moment. It is one of my personal favorites. Thanks for the kind words, Steve.