Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

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Northern Mockingbirds seem to know when they are being photographed as they regally pose for a camera.

Homestead, PA June, 2008

In the late day sunshine, this mockingbird “tshaked” as a warning to the photographer.

Salisbury, MD April, 2009

At dusk, a mockingbird posed atop a tree against a pink sky.

Baylands Nature Reserve Palo Alto, CA July, 2015

The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 6 November/December 2019 All photos © by the author

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

A Northern Mockingbird was gathering material for a second nest. This was probably the male in a bonded pair.

Above Duck Hollow July, 2015

Two mockingbird nestlings in a nest located about five feet up in a small tree. Note the large gape flange on their beaks

Nile Mile Run Trail July, 2015

As a female mockingbird was carrying a grasshopper for her nestlings, her mate was busy driving a Red-tailed Hawk away from the area. (See below.)

The Waterfront Homestead, PA July, 2008

The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 6 November/December 2019 All photos © by the author

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

Adult mockingbird was bringing berries back to the nestlings pictured above. Insects and fruit are the main diet of nestlings.

Nile Mile Run Trail July, 2015

A fearless male mockingbird harassed a Red-tailed Hawk that was too near its nest and territory. The male had actually rammed into the hawk’s body! See the related article in the Sept/Oct 2008 edition of The Peregrine.

The Waterfront Homestead, PA July, 2008

The same pair as the mockingbird chased the Red-tailed Hawk away from his area.

The Waterfront Homestead, PA July, 2008

The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 6 November/December 2019 All photos © by the author

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

A juvenile mockingbird is distinguished from an adult by the spotting on its breast

Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh August, 2017

Another juvenile mockingbird showed its spotting as it rested among weeds in an overgrown lot.

West Mifflin, PA August, 2018

A mockingbird tried to scare up its supper of insects by exposing the white patches on its wings. See the related article in the Sept/Oct 2016 edition of The Peregrine

West Mifflin, PA June, 2019

The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 6 November/December 2019 All photos © by the author

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

The mockingbird was again trying to scare up its supper by exposing the white patches on its wings.

West Mifflin, PA June, 2019

In the winter a mockingbird will be attracted to feeders with peanut butter or suet. Be careful that one does not drive away other birds from your feeding station

Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh March, 2014

The mockingbird may not sing as much in winter. The bulge on this bird’s neck was from a quiet ‘whisper song’ it sang with the photographer being so close.

The Waterfront February, 2009

The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 6 November/December 2019 All photos © by the author

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

To demonstrate again the fearlessness of a mockingbird, this time on its winter territory, the smaller bird took on a Rough- legged Hawk to drive the raptor out of its claimed area.

IBA-80 Washington County, PA December, 2010

The mockingbird (lower left center) made the much larger Rough -legged Hawk (four times its wingspan) take off from the mockingbird’s tree.

IBA-80 Washington County, PA December , 2010

The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 6 November/December 2019 All photos © by the author

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

A mockingbird takes off revealing the white patches on its wings and the white outer feathers of its tail.

West Mifflin, PA June, 2019

As noted at the beginning of this gallery, the

Northern Mockingbird stands at the topmost

parts of its territory striking a royal pose.

Chapel Harbor O’Hara Twp, PA June, 2011

Northern Mockingbirds – Tom Moeller Photo Gallery

References:

Paul J. Baicich and Colin J. O. Harrison. “Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).” Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds (Princeton Field Guides). Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997. Pages 258-259.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Northern Mockingbird; Life History.” All About Birds. 2017. Accessed September 28, 2019. https://tinyurl.com/yavrpbp2

John V. Dennis. “Mockingbird.” A Complete Guide to Bird Feeding. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994. Pages 67-68 and 208-210.

Robin W. Doughty. The Mockingbird. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1988.

Hal H. Harrison. “Northern (Common) Mockingbird; Mimus polyglottos.” A Field Guide to the Birds’ Nests; United States east of the Mississippi River (The Peterson Field Guide Series). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1975. Page 153.

Hawaii Audubon Society. “Northern Mockingbird; Mimus polyglottos.” Hawaii’s Birds. Waipahu, HI: Island Heritage Publishing, 2005. Page 115.

Donald Kroodsman. “A Northern Mockingbird Defends Her Winter Territory.” Birdsong by the Seasons; A Year of Listening to Birds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. Pages 252-261.

Donald Kroodsman. “Borrowed Songs: Mimicry; The Northern Mockingbird.” The Singing Life of Birds; The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. Pages 68-79.

T. Gilbert Pearson. “Mockingbird; (Mimus polyglottos).” The Book of Birds; The First Work Presenting in Full Color All the Major Species of the United States and Canada, Vol. II. Gilbert Grosvenor and Alexander Wetmore, editors. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1932-1939. Pages 166-168.

Gary H. Rosenberg. “Mockingbirds and Thrashers.” The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001. Pages 468-474.

Calvin Simonds. “Mockingbirds; Virtuoso Singers.” Private Lives of Garden Birds. North Adams, MA: Storey Books, 2002.Pages 8-23.

Donald and Lillian Stokes. “Mockingbird / Mimus polyglottos.” A Guide to Bird Behavior; Volume I (Stokes Nature Guides). Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1983. Pages 187-199.

Paul W. Sykes, Jr. “Northern Mockingbird.” The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding; 3 Warblers to Sparrows. John Farrand, Jr., editor. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983. Pages 62-63.