State Birds the Northern Mockingbird (week 2)

This Mockingbird perched at Galveston, TX

The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird for 5 states which include; Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Mockingbirds are gray with white and grayish underparts, they are about 10 inches long, and weigh less than 2 ounces. Mocking birds have black feet, with wings that are gray-black. When in flight large white patches can be seen as the wings are spread.

Mockingbirds are not common to Wisconsin but may be seen in the very southern part of the state. Mockingbirds breed (if you draw a line on the map) from as far west as parts of northern California, through Nebraska, Illinois and the lower Peninsula of Michigan up into Canada, namely southern Ontario, and into the Maritime Provinces. Mockingbirds spend winters south of that into the southern states and Mexico.

This photo was taken near Kansas City, MO

Mockingbirds feed on fruit and insects; they can be seen in residential areas, city parks, and open country farmlands, with thickets and desert brush. A group of Mockingbirds are called a number of different things but the most appropriate name is a "echo" of Mockingbirds; which is what they do, they echo or mimic the songs of other birds.

For more interesting facts check this out:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_mockingbird/id