BREEDING BIRDS: NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos Linnaeus) Description: Dull gray above; paler below. White outer tail feathers and white wing patches flash conspicuously during flight. Habitat: Rural thickets, woodland edges, suburbs and towns. Diet: Fruits, berries, sowbugs, snails and crayfish. Displays: Pair perform a mating dance facing each other with heads and tails high, darting at each other and retreating; may also serve as territorial display between males. Defends territory aggressively, attacking intruders. Nest: Male usually builds foundation out of twigs. Female lines it with grass and rootlets. Usually found in conifers, deciduous shrubs and occasionally in vines. Eggs: Blue-green, usually heavily marked with brown. Song: A mixture of phrases, each repeated several times. Imitates other sounds in the environment, including other birds, squeaky gates, pianos and barking dogs. Call is a loud, sharp “check. “ During spring, males may sing continuously, day and night. Breeding bird atlas: To report bird breeding activity in your neighborhood, or to get information on the breeding bird atlas, call Sea and Sage Audubon Society members Sylvia Gallagher, (714) 962-8990, or Nancy Kenyon, (714) 786-3160. Note: Map is divided into 5-kilometer squares so that Audubon Society volunteers can more easily survey areas on a regular basis. Sources: Sea and Sage Audubon Society; “The Birder’s Handbook,” Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, Fireside Books (1988); “Field Guide to the Birds of North America,” National Geographic Society (1987); “Birds of Southern California: Status and Distribution,” Garrett and Dunn, Los Angeles Audubon Society (1981). Indicates 5-kilometer-square areas where breeding activity has been confirmed.