northern northern commonly found north_america bird mainly permanent resident northern birds south harsh weather species rarely observed europe species described northern renowned mimicking ability reflected meaning scientific mimic northern gray brown upper feathers paler belly tail wings white patches visible flight northern eats insects fruits found open areas forest edges grassy land northern breeds southeastern canada united_states northern mexico bahamas replaced south closest living relative tropical endangered species closely related contrary previous opinion northern listed concern according northern known intelligence noted north american culture study showed bird able recognize individual humans particularly noting previously threats birds recognize breeding spots return areas greatest success previous years urban birds likely demonstrate behavior finally influenced united_states culture multiple ways bird state bird different states book titles popular songs appearances culture taxonomy swedish zoologist described species current latin means mimic representing outstanding ability mimic sounds northern considered tropical species categorized northern closest living relative subspecies recognized subspecies northern proposed races bahamas haiti placed section generally found eastern portion north_america ranging nova scotia nebraska far south texas florida western generally found western portion north_america ranging pacific_coast south mexico larger slightly shorter tail buff paler stronger buff pigment bahamas similar smaller paler shade gray practically little buff description northern medium sized long legs tail males females look alike upper parts colored gray white whitish gray color parallel wing bars half wings connected near white patch giving distinctive appearance flight black central typical white lateral noticeable flight iris usually light green yellow yellow instances orange color bill black brownish black appearance base juvenile appearance marked streaks distinguished spots streaks chest gray grayish green iris northern measure including tail long body wingspan range body mass males tend slightly larger females standard measurements wing chord tail northern lifespan observed years captive birds live years distribution habitat breeding range maritime provinces canada westwards british_columbia practically entire south northern plains states pacific northwest majority mexico eastern veracruz generally year round resident range birds live northern portion range noted south winter season sightings recorded hawaii introduced 1920s southeastern alaska twice britain thought partly migratory northern portions range migratory behavior understood nineteenth century range expanded northward provinces nova scotia ontario states massachusetts sightings sporadic decades twentieth century regions received influx maine vermont ohio iowa new_york western states california population restricted lower regions 1970s residential counties islands saw introductions include bermuda failed barbados habitat varies location prefers open areas sparse vegetation eastern regions suburban urban areas parks gardens frequent residential areas affinity shrubs proximity shade nesting western regions desert preferred habitats foraging food prefers short grass affinity bird nest densely forested areas generally resides habitats year round behavior diet northern birds diet consists fruits seeds seldom drink river lake edges rain plants adult seen drinking cuts recently trees diet heavily consists animal prey breeding season takes drastic shift fruits fall winter drive fruits amid winter noted geographic expansion particular fruit favorite birds possible link eat garden fruits tomatoes birds forage ground vegetation fly perch capture food foraging frequently spread wings peculiar step motion display white patches disagreement purpose behavior ranging intimidation predators prey breeding male female species reach sexual maturity year life breeding season occurs spring early summer males arrive beginning season establish territories males use series courtship displays attract females sites run area showcase territory females pursue females males engage flight showcase wings sing perform displays species remain years incidents reported occur bird lifetime northern pairs hatch year breeding season northern lays average eggs hatch days days life offspring independent male female involved nest building male work female tree nest built watch predators nest built approximately feet ground outer nest composed twigs inner lined grasses dead leaves moss artificial fibers eggs light blue greenish color dots female lays eggs nearly weeks eggs hatched male female feed chicks birds aggressively defend nests surrounding areas birds animals predator persistent summoned distinct calls neighboring territories join attack birds gather watch harass addition domestic cats dogs consider threat target humans birds absolutely attack larger birds hawks famous incident oklahoma involving postal carrier resulted distribution warning letter residents sexual selection northern famous song studies shown males sing songs beginning breeding season attract females males sing songs directions sing bouts males addition males perform flight displays males usually nest times breeding season depending stage breeding mating status male vary song production male keeps close track change sings direction chance lure female nest male males likely use elevated extend songs range socially males known sing attract additional mates study logan demonstrates female continuously evaluating quality male territory assessment usually triggered arrival new male neighboring territory beginning new breeding season cases female constantly seen flying original new male territory evaluating qualities territories exchanging calls males social mate displays aggressive behaviors female new male shows aggression sings softer songs time male new male fly territories attract females divorce mate switching extra pair occur northern sex allocation northern adjust sex ratio offspring according food availability population density male offspring usually require parental investment bias bearing sex beginning breeding season food abundant local resource competition parents share resources offspring remain site maturation birds like northern females likely disperse males produce sex sex population density high competition local resources intense northern abundant urban environments possible pollution contamination cities affect sexual play role offspring sex ratio mating northern socially sexes look alike males little larger size females mutual mate choice exhibited northern males females prefer mates aggressive exhibit greater parental investment males defensive nests females population male breeding adults female breeding adults females freedom choosing mates cases female breeders option changing mates breeding season male provide high level parental care includes feeding nest defense high nesting success associated highly aggressive males attacking territory males preferred females parental care northern meaning hatched born relatively require certain duration parents young survival stage higher levels predation egg predation levels exhibited parents increase eggs hatch increase egg stage recent study shows food availability temperature affect parental eggs northern increasing food availability provides females time care nest perform self maintenance increasing temperature reduces time females spend nest increased energy cost cool eggs behavior trade environmental factors nests parents found reject parasitic eggs intermediate rate recent study shown foreign eggs likely rejected nest later breeding season earlier breeding season early nesting hosts learned pattern coloration clutch likely reject foreign eggs seasonal threshold terms overlap breeding seasons northern parasites breeding season parasites starts later likelihood pays hosts relatively lower sensitivity parasitic eggs song calls species bird imitate birds northern best known north_america species imitated northern cardinal eastern house wood eastern songs calls northern great blue jay alarm american robin birds animals cats dogs frogs sounds artificial items wheels car convincing humans fail fool birds florida jay northern likely serve form sexual selection competition males female choice influence bird song repertoire size study attempted determine model selection vocal data suggested resulted bird genetically learning acoustic characteristics enlarged template male female sing generally vocal male commencement singing late january february continue summer establishing territory fall frequency female singing sporadic sings summer fall sings male away territory possesses large song repertoire ranges song types size varies region repertoire sizes ranged types texas studies florida rounded estimates approximately continually expands repertoire life comparison brown recognized calls nest relief chat begging mainly sexes potential nest predators chasing interactions mates differences frequency use year round occur fall difference appear territorial defense fall sex disturbed nest relief begging calls males laboratory observation thirty respectively recorded development young notable included eyes opening soft begging began days life variation begging compact movements fear stretching appeared ninth day wing flashing bathing flight leaving nest happened seventeen days nest leaving occurred days improvements flight walking self feeding walking took place days behavior increased juvenile stages extent siblings living area likely killed predation threats adult fall victim birds prey great owl owl sharp hawk behavior leads likely captured killed eaten snakes rarely capture females prey cats red tailed hawks eggs consumed blue fish american red tailed hawks swallow tailed snakes cats larvae found florida arizona populations respectively winter storms limit expansion range storms played role declining ohio populations recovered michigan minnesota likely quebec dry seasons affects populations arizona intelligence paper published researchers found able recall individual human earlier study approached threatened nest researchers participant stand near nest touch avoided nest later recognized exhibited defensive behavior ignoring individuals adaptation urban habitats northern species found urban rural habitats northern living urban habitats non urban environments consequently known urban positive species long questioned northern adapt novel environment cities fall typical ecological traps common urban dwelling birds comparative study urban dwelling population rural dwelling shows apparent survival higher individuals urban habitats lower food availability travel costs account higher mortality rate rural habitats urban birds likely return nest successfully bred previous year avoid breeding success low explanation phenomenon urban environments predictable non urban ones site fidelity urban birds prevents ecological traps able utilize artificial lighting order feed urban areas residential neighborhoods night contrast nest near areas adaptation urban habitats led susceptible lead poisoning population baltimore washington population culture features title central metaphor novel kill novel portrayed innocent generous major characters sin kill don thing music enjoy don eat people gardens don nest don thing sing hearts traditional thought written key lines little baby don word mama gon buy don sing mama gon buy diamond ring song northern classic american folk song mid-19th century listen mocking bird bird hill popular song best known recordings page president united_states pet named dick state bird northern state bird arkansas florida mississippi tennessee texas state bird south_carolina
Northern mockingbird