Weekend Birding: Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird can be found across most of the United States and Mexico. They are a medium-sized songbird that frequents backyards, parks and the forest edge. You won’t find them at feeders, they prefer insects, fruits and berries. When there is a Mockingbird in your yard you will know it by the endless singing, sometimes sounding like several different birds.
They are rarely sighted in the Chicago area and I have yet to see one here. They prefer more temperate areas and those that do venture north will only stay here for the summer months.
The photo above is a Mockingbird I saw while vacationing in Mexico last year. There were several of them pecking away at an apple that someone had tossed in the grass. I was able to get quite close as this bird was not going to leave the apple.
The other birds wandered a safe distance away giving me evil looks while I was taking photos.
Interesting Facts:
- Northern Mockingbirds learn new songs throughout their lives and a male may learn around 200 songs often imitating other birds.
- They sing all through the day, and often into the night. Nighttime singing is more common during the full moon.
- In the nineteenth century, people kept so many mockingbirds as cage birds that the birds nearly vanished from parts of the East Coast. (This is now illegal).
- The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
I link up my bird photos on Saturday Snapshot hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
Under My Apple Tree 
Such a beautiful bird. I’ve always wondered what a mockingbird looks like. I did birds for my Saturday Snapshot today too.
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He is a beauty. I swear I’ve heard them, but don’t think I’ve seen one???
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We had one in our yard that drove us nuts. He kept pecking on the window in our laundry room.
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Your bird photos are always amazing. We see them, or hear them, all the time when I visit my parents in Florida. Here’s Mine
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Now this is a bird that I know about. LOL
Yes, it is the state bird of Texas. We used to have a cat who was plagued by one mockingbird. I think the cat had been the executioner for one of the bird’s relatives. Anyway, the bird would divebomb the cat when he was outside. It was pretty funny to see.
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I love all the colors in the first shot.
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We have some visit us from time to time. They make a lot of noise!
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I love Mockingbirds! These are gorgeous shots. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT and
MY WEBSITE
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I’m not sure I’ve seen any, but I’m pretty sure I’ve heard them. Your photos are always gorgeous!
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I think everybody sings a little more during a full moon! Great pictures.
My Saturday Snapshot
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I love that sing at night, especially during full moons. Lovely, informative post!
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I love that they sing at night, especially during full moons. Lovely, informative post!
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They are beautiful! I’ve never seen one (or heard one) in real life – at least that I know of.
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So beautiful! The first shot is wonderfully clear and detailed.
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Bird shots always amaze me. The ones around my home are forever on the move, never pausing for pictures.
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I had no idea that a mockingbird was that pretty. I love how the light blue slowly becomes darker, right on into indigo there at the wing edges.
Gorgeous. And thank you for the lore, as well. I didn’t know they were such prodigious songsters.
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Great shot!
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We have a mocking bird that lives in our backyard and I know he’s there just to torment my cat.
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Wonderful shot thank you so much for sharing.
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I love mockingbirds! We have them in our neighborhood – Manchester, NH. In the spring they’ll start singing early in the AM and sometimes go until 9 PM or so. I’ve heard them do robins, gulls, blue jays, cell phones, and car alarms.
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What a handsome bird! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mockingbird. Lovely pictures!
I’m running late on posting this week…but I have a really good reason.
http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/10/saturday-snapshot-october-1.html
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Beautiful birds….
Here is my Saturday Snapshot post!
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Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. In Mexico was the only time I’ve seen a Mockingbird. They are rare in the Chicago area with a less than 10% chance of a sighting.
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Very cute!
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Great photo. He’s very pretty. I just spotted some gold finches in our trees yesterday, I may try to get some photos of them.
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What a great shot of a very pretty bird.
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