Northern mockingbird
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The northern mockingbird, or Mimus polyglottas, is recognized for its imitations of dozens of other birds. Its song is famous, with its varied repetitions, and is heard all day during breeding season.
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[edit] Appearance
This mockingbird has gray upperparts and gray-white underparts. Its blackish wings have large white patches and are lined with two white wing bars. This bird has a short black bill and a long gray tail. Overall, the northern mockingbird is 10 inches long and has a wingspan of 13-15 inches.
[edit] Habitat
The northern mockingbird can be found near towns, farms, roadsides, thickets, and brushy areas They tend to favor habitats with dense low shrubs and open ground.
[edit] Feeding
This bird feeds mainly on insects and berries. It usually eats beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, and wasps in the spring and summer. They will also eat spiders, snails, sowbugs, earthworms, and rarely crayfish and lizards.
[edit] Nesting
The nest is placed in a dense shrub or tree. It is comprised of twigs, weeds, grass, leaves, and lined with finer materials. It is usually found 3-10 feet above the ground.
The female lays 3-4 greenish to bluish-gray eggs. The incubation period lasts for 12-13 days and is performed by the female mockingbird.
