After some unsuccessful attempts at photographing the Butterflies my next attempt is of some of my resident birds that like to visit the garden.
This one is a Northern Mockingbird who
has claimed my backyard as part of his territory. It's proper name is Mimus Polyglottos which translates to many tongued mimic in latin.
It visits my garden when the mood strike it then will stay gone for several days. It sings cheerfully different songs during it's mating periods from February to August then again in September to November. During these periods I have heard it singing at 3am in the morning. I have read that a male Mockingbird can learn 200 different songs in it's lifetime.
This Mockingbird is a natural acrobat in the air and I have watched him pluck insects from the air in mid flight. It has moves that would make any pilot envious. It is also very territorial and will chase away birds that it doesn't like by flying around them displaying it's white under wing in a flash of white. I have watched it sit next to the doves in harmony then attack another bird it takes a dislike to.
It will often enjoy one of my Everglades Tomatoes when the mood strikes it.
In this picture it is sitting on the Tomato bush selecting the one it wants. We both like to partake in the Tomatoes straight from the bush.
Way back in 1927 the Florida Legislature made the Mockingbird the Florida State bird. It must be popular as it is also the State Bird of Texas , Arkansas,Mississippi and Tennessee.
Now this bird is unknown to me . It is one of the few who show up in my garden that have bright colors.It only comes around in the late fall and winter and will be gone when early summer rolls around.
I figure that someone will be able to recognize it and tell me what it is.
I think that the birds make a great addition to the garden and provide a lot of entertainment. I encourage them to visit anytime they take a mind to.
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I think it might be an Eastern Towhee. I kept seeing them in the litter underneath shrubs here and thought they looked like orioles, but further looking proved me wrong.
ReplyDeletehttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/662/_/Eastern_Towhee.aspx
Nell Jean,
ReplyDeleteThe closest match I have found is an Altimera Oriole by its markings but it is not susposed to be in Florida.This one hangs out above the ground and I have never seen it in the leaves or under the bushes here.
Your bird looks a lot like a young orchard oriole, icterus spurius. I like mockingbirds. They are feisty birds, and they have beautiful songs.
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is it sticks out among the others here. Most of the birds here have dull colors not like this one .