Florida state bird

The Florida State Bird

The Mockingbird's scientific name is "Mimus polyglyottos". The Mockingbird is able to imitate the songs of other birds. This is how it got its' name. There was a song written about it. "Listen To The Mockingbird" by Richard Milburn in 1855. The Northern Mockingbird is also the state bird of Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas.

The Mockingbird is just about the same height as an American Robin. It is medium Grey on the back and wings. The breast is very light Grey, almost White. The most outstanding characteristic is the White wing bars displayed while the bird is flying. It eats insects, small vertibrates, and fruit.

The bird is a native to the state of Florida, but its' range stretches from the Florida Keys to as far North as Canada.

Mockingbirds are fearless. They can be found in suburbs and open land. They are not afraid of people and nest wherever they please. It is not uncommon to find them nesting in a tree in your yard. They will dive at an unsuspecting dog or cat or even you when you get to close to the nest. The male will begin building the nest in a suitable location such as a lower branch of a tree or within the center of a dense bush or hedge. It makes its nest out of small twigs and other found materials. When he has completed his part of the nest building he invites the female to inspect the nest. If she accepts his nest, then she will finish the nest by lining it with down and other soft materials. Once they have completed the nest building she will lay 3 to 5 small (1" - 24mm), blue-green eggs with brownish markings and the process of attending to the new family begins.

The State Legislature of Florida has been petitioned to name the Florida Scrub Jay as the State Bird of Florida. The Florida Scrub Jay is on the Audubon Society's Blue List. A species on this list has been observed to be facing a serious decline in population numbers. In the case of the Florida Scrub Jay this is because of a continued loss of habitat.