The Many Ways of a Northern Mockingbird

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Photos taken on a variety of days in April

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Mockingbirds sometimes stay in the same area, but I think we are north far enough that ours travel south for the winter, because they seem to be missing during the cold weather.

I googled, “How many kinds of mockingbirds are there?” The answer I got: There are 17 species, including Long-tailed, Blue, Bahama, Galapagos, and Chilean.

I was surprised to learn that Northern Mocking birds are rarely found in Europe.

I also learned that it is rare to find a mocking bird in the United States other than the Northern Mockingbird.

They are known for mimicking other birds, insects and sounds of nature.

Their scientific name is “many-tongued thrush”.

A male mockingbird can learn up to 200 different songs in its lifetime.

A male will sing different songs in the fall than in the spring.

Both the male and female sing but the female is much quieter than the male. The male is louder because his song is often used during mating season.

A wet mockingbird. 🙂

The range of a Northern Mockingbird is from southeast Canada to Central America.

The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird for Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida.

Both the male and female construct the nest – taking 3 to 5 days.

Eggs are incubated for 11 to 13 days. Both parents feed the hatchlings up to 12 days.

It is a very territorial bird and will not hesitate to attack intruders. This bird defends 2 separate territories. One of which is its breeding territory just like other birds, but also they have a fall/winter feeding territory fending off other birds who eat the same food.

I enjoy watching them at our feeders, and it was fun to learn more about them.