My goodness there are a lot of birds in the yard today! I can hear the songs and calls of …
- Northern cardinal
- American robin
- Eastern phoebe
- Carolina wren
- Blue jay
- Tufted titmouse
- White-breasted nuthatch
- Killdeer (that’s odd!)
- Eastern bluebird
- Eastern towhee
- Common grackle
- Northern flicker
- Mallard (quacking in my dry backyard?)
- And what’s that back-up whistle?
April Fool! It’s a northern mockingbird.
Did you know that both male and female mockingbirds sing? And that the males can mimic over 150 songs? No fooling!
(photo by Marcy Cunkelman)
An amazing bird for sure. I’ve been fooled so many times til’ I see it, thought for sure there were 2 Towees at a park nearby and often at the same small Industrial park I’ve looked for the killdeer (who do actually show up in the parking lots or near the pond) til’ I see a Mocker up on a pole or hidden in a tree. Usually do perk high up when performing tho sometimes when you hear them they call/sing so fast with too many other bird calls too close together you know it’s got to be one of them. Last year at Crooked Creek I also watched a male “dancing” for a female in the sand of a volleyball spot which was very entertaining.
I worked the last two summers in downtown Annapolis, MD, and when I would wash boats in the parking lot, I would listen to a resident Mockingbird who impressively mimicked car alarms and a ringing office phone. I pointed out the “phone” call to my co-worker once. He was as impressed as I was. I wonder who left their windows open at work?
I had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker about a week ago – and then I was so surprised to see a Pine Warbler in our Western New York area this same day. Its appearance is 13 days earlier than last year! What a great spring this has been! I posted some photos I got of the Pine Warbler here: http://www.chirpsandcheeps.com/BirdBlog/Default.aspx?id=2993. It was a bit rainy, but he didn’t seem to mind!