Northern mockingbird

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_mockingbird

 Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

The northern mockingbird belongs to Mimidae family.

They have small heads, petite bill, long legs and short, rounded wings. They are grey/brown on the wings and top but paler on the breast. The young have spots on their belly

They tend to spend the most of their time perched on vegetation, fences or anywhere where they can be seen doing its mimicking song. They can be found in edges of forests, open fields and in urban areas.

The male sings and flaps his wings to find a female to mate with. The courtship starts with the female and male chasing each other round their territory. The male starts the constructing the nest and the females finishes it off.

The female and male both guard and defend their nest and feeding resources. During courtship and aggression they flash the white feathers. The females lay between two and six eggs, they are then in incubation for thirteen days. Once they are hatched both parents take on the role of feeding the chicks twelve days after hatching they leave the nest.

They feed on berries, arthropods and insects for example spiders, snail and grasshoppers.

They have a very distinct call, it is loud and sharp. They are excellent at copying other birds songs.

    

Allaboutbirds.org, (2015). Northern Mockingbird. [online] Available at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/id [Accessed 13 Apr. 2015].

Audubon, (2014). Northern Mockingbird. [online] Available at: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-mockingbird [Accessed 13 Apr. 2015].

Society, N. (2015). Northern Mockingbirds, Northern Mockingbird Pictures, Northern Mockingbird Facts - National Geographic. [online] National Geographic. Available at: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/northern-mockingbird/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2015].