When this hatch year Northern Mockingbird flew into the birdbath two days ago, I was ready to photograph her or him as soon as they landed on it.
Hatch year Northern Mockingbird at a birdbath – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 1600, +0.7 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light
The Northern Mockingbirds have been especially skittish this season, so I knew I had to be quick to take the photos I wanted.
Two frames after this image, all I got was the mockingbird’s tail as she or he flew out of view. I timed this photo just right.
Inquiring minds may wonder how I know this is a hatch year Northern Mockingbird. I don’t see a fleshy gape in the original full-resolution photo, and even this web-sized image shows that the fleshy gape is absent.
One of the reasons I know this mockingbird hatched this year is because it still shows some grayish speckles on the chest, flanks, and belly. Adult Northern Mockingbirds do not show that.
The larger Bahama Mockingbirds have some dark streaking on their flanks, but they would be extremely rare in Arkansas.
Bahama Mockingbirds are limited to the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and they occasionally stray to Florida. On eBird, there are zero records of Bahama Mockingbirds outside of the state of Florida.
I have experience with this mockingbird species and photographed them at Half Moon Cay in March of 2009.
Although the adults have been harder to photograph, I’ve enjoyed taking images of Northern Mockingbird chicks, fledglings, and immature birds this year.
Northern Mockingbirds are year round residents here so I am not through trying to take photos of them yet this year.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Northern Mockingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Leave A Comment