Northern Mockingbird Looking Back at Loxahatchee NWR, Boynton Beach, Florida

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I photographed this Northern Mockingbird, with its damaged upper bill, at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge located on Boynton Beach, near Florida's Atlantic Coast. Jan Nagalski, who was visiting Florida on his annual defrosting trip from the frozen north, had heard of Loxahatchee and wanted to see it for himself. This El-Niño-Wintered Loxahatchee was less than optimal, but then it was close to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands which were outstanding. Loxahatchee was very dry and thus the many birds that feed on the fish were elsewhere. However, we found a good variety of birds, some which I had not seen and not photographed before.
The Northern Mockingbird is Florida’s state bird and can be found in just about every place in which I have been in the state. In fact, we have a couple outside our bedroom window which serenades us each morning, noon, and night. The Northern Mockingbird is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America where it is mainly a permanent resident although northern birds may move south during harsh weather. This species has rarely been observed in Europe, was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturæ in 1758 and is known for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, "many-tongued mimic". The bird has gray to brown upper feathers and a paler belly. Its tail and wings have white patches which are visible in flight. The Northern Mockingbird is an omnivore who eats insects as well as fruits. It is often found in open areas and forest edges but forages in grassy land. It breeds in southeastern Canada, the United States, northern Mexico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and the Greater Antilles. It is replaced further south by its closest living relative, the tropical mockingbird. The Socorro mockingbird, an endangered species, is also closely related, contrary to previous opinion. The Northern Mockingbird is known for its intelligence with a 2009 study showing that the bird was able to recognize individual humans, particularly noting those who had previously been intruders or threats. In addition, individual birds recognize their breeding spots and return to areas in which they had greatest success in previous years with urban birds more likely to demonstrate this behavior.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Taken in: United States / Florida / Congressional District 21 (show map)

Taken on: March 25, 2024

Tags:

Northern Mockingbird

Mockingbird, Northern

Mimus Polyglottos

Omnivore

Songbird Species

Songbird

New World

Temperate North America

Temperate

North America

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Loxahatchee NWR

Loxahatchee

National Wildlife Refuge

NWR

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee

Arthur R. Marshall

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Boynton Beach

Florida

Paul Fernandez « less

Sets appears in: • Birds of Florida - Miscellaneous

Camera: Nikon D850, f/8.0, 0.001 sec (1/800) sec (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D850
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
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Stats: 204 views / 3 comments

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