Sialia currucoides- Mountain Bluebird

View range map of Mountain Bluebird here.

The brilliant sky blue Mountain Bluebird is a common bird of ranchlands and other open areas in western North America, from southern Alaska to New Mexico during the summer months, and the south western United States and Mexico during the winter. The Mountain Bluebird competes with the Western Bluebird for nest boxes, and in areas where their ranges overlap also with the Eastern Bluebird. This limits the westward expansion of the Eastern Bluebird. The Mountain Bluebird prefers more open habitat than other Bluebird species, and populations increase dramatically when land is opened up for agriculture. Grasslands and meadows with scattered trees at elevations up to 3800m are used during the breeding season. The Mountain Bluebird feeds on insects and some small fruits. It hunts from a perch and drops onto prey on the ground. It also hovers, and gleans. The male Mountain Bluebird stakes out a territory on arrival at the nesting grounds. He will investigate all cavities within his territory and display at each one, flying back and forth while singing to the female. Ultimately the choice of which cavity is used is made by the female. The female Mountain Bluebird builds the nest in the chosen cavity in a tree or snag, or nesting box. The nest is woven from grasses and lined with soft bark, hair or feathers. She lays 5-6 pale blue or white eggs. The female incubates the eggs, and the male brings her food during this time and while she is brooding the chicks for approximately a week after hatching. After this both parents feed the chicks and continue to do so after the chicks fledge at around 18-21 days of age. The fledglings remain totally dependent on the parents for at least the first three days after they fledge and may not be totally independent for several weeks. During this time the female may begin a second clutch and the male will continue to care for the fledglings alone. This species is doing well due to the clearing of land for agriculture and the practice of providing nest boxes.

View range map of American Robin here.

The American Robin is the largest (length 10"), most widespread and abundant thrush in North America. This species tolerance for human modified habitats has led to its success. Thousand of American Robins may congregate at a single roost. During the winter all birds will congregate to roost. During the breeding season the females always remain on the nest while the males continue to roost at a single site. As the fledglings become independent they too will roost at this site, the female will only join them when the breeding season is over. The American Robin is resident across the United States and migratory in Alaska and Canada. This species forages on the ground for invertebrates, especially earth worms, and often forages on suburban lawns. The American Robin also gleans insects from foliage and eats fruits. The male will collect nesting material, while the female chooses the nest site and constructs the nest, usually in a protected evergreen or decidous tree but sometimes on the ground. In the north of its range, the American Robin may nest on cliff faces or buildings where trees are not available. The female lays 3-4 blue eggs, and incubates them for 12-14 days. Both parents feed the colorful nestlings which fledge after approximately 13 days. The parents continue to feed the fledglings for three weeks. Considered a delicacy from colonial times until the mid 1800s, large numbers of American Robins were hunted for food. Deaths of American Robins following applications of DDT, alerted scientists and attracted media attention to the dangers of pesticides during the 1950s. American Robins are affected because they consume large numbers of earth worms and the concentrations of chemicals accumulate in their bodies. Studies showed that it took 10-17 years for a population to recover after a single application of DDT to its habitat. Poisoning by other chemicals continues to be a problem for this species and because it is sensitive to chemical pollutants this species is a good indicator of pollution levels within its habitat. The use of pesticides on suburban lawns results in a reduction of nesting success of American Robins, due to the loss of food. However due to its large range, this species is apparently secure at this time.

Mimus polyglottos- Northern Mockingbird

View range map of Northern Mockingbird here.

The Northern Mockingbird is famous for its complex song which includes imitations of many other birds and animal and man-made sounds. New sounds are added to the birds' song throughout its lifetime. Both male and female mockingbirds sing. During the breeding season, an unmated male will sing at night as well as during the day. The female does not sing as loudly and persistently as the male, and mostly during the fall, perhaps to establish a winter territory. A year round resident through most of its range from southern Canada, throughout the United States and northern Mexico, the Northern Mockingbird is common in parks second growth woodlands and suburban habitats. This species fiercely defends its territory with flashes of its white wing patches, loud squawks and aerial battles are a common occurrence. The Northern Mockingbird is an omnivore and will eat a variety of fruit and insects. Most food is picked from branches or on the ground, but it may also hover to eat fruit. The Northern Mockingbird is monogamous and some pairs remain together year round on a single territory. Several nest sites may be used during a single breeding season when up to four broods may be raised. The male will build a nest in a low dense shrub or tree, and perform acrobatic courtship chases when a female enters his territory. The open cup nest is then lined by the female and she lays 2-6 pale blue/ green eggs with reddish markings. The female incubates the eggs for about 13 days, and broods them after hatching. Both parents feed the nestlings mostly insects and some fruit. The chicks fledge after 12 days, and are fed by both parents for about three days. The male then begins construction of another nest while the female continues to feed the fledglings. Once the nest in ready, the female lines it and begins a second clutch. The male then resumes feeding the fledglings for about three more weeks. The young immature birds will congregate between territories for the rest of the season, feeding on insects. From 1700s to early 1900s Northern Mockingbirds were captured and sold as caged birds because of their exceptional singing abilities. Nestlings were most desirable, but older birds were also captured and egg collecting was also common at this time. Populations were drastically reduced by these activities and the species became rare in some parts of its range. Populations did not recover in these areas until the 1940s. The Northern Mockingbird adapts well to suburban landscapes and is benefiting from secondary growth on former farm lands. The range of this species is expanding northwards, but there have been declines in numbers in the southern part of its range.

There are no flock members in this family.

There are no flock members in this family.

There are no flock members in this family.

There are no flock members in this family.