Bahama Mockingbird

The Bahama mockingbird, Mimus gundlachii, is a medium-sized passerine with a length of approximately 28 cm (11 in) and a weight range of 57 to 85 g (2.0 to 3.0 oz), averaging at 66.8 g (2.36 oz). This bird is characterized by its mottled face and pale supercilium, while its upperparts are a brownish gray with dark streaks extending from the crown to the lower back. The outer tail feathers are tipped with white, and the underparts are a light gray with streaking on the upper breast and more pronounced streaks on the flanks.

Identification Tips

Adults of the nominate subspecies can be identified by their mottled face and pale supercilium. The juvenile Bahama mockingbird is similar in appearance but has more densely spotted underparts. The subspecies M. g. hillii is distinguished by more prominent streaking on its back and larger white tips on the tail feathers.

Habitat

The Bahama mockingbird is found in a variety of habitats including coastal strands, semi-arid scrub, open woodlands, and plantations. In Jamaica, it prefers dry scrubby woodlands on limestone hills. It tends to favor taller, denser vegetation than its relative, the northern mockingbird, where their ranges overlap.

Distribution

This species is native to the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is also known to be a vagrant to Florida. The nominate subspecies is found in the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago off Cuba's north coast, while M. g. hillii is exclusive to southern Jamaica.

Behaviour

The Bahama mockingbird is an omnivorous bird that forages mainly on the ground, sifting through leaf litter, but also hunts up to 6 m (20 ft) high in vegetation. It is known to defend its feeding sites aggressively.

Song & calls

The song of the Bahama mockingbird is a loud and repetitive series of abrupt, varied notes and phrases, with a tendency for repetition. Unlike some of its relatives, it does not typically mimic the songs of other bird species.

Breeding

The breeding season for the Bahama mockingbird ranges from February to July in most areas, but starts in April on the Cuban islands. Both sexes contribute to building a rough open cup nest made of twigs and lined with softer fibers, usually situated low in a bush. They are known to defend their territory with vigorous song. The typical clutch size consists of two or three eggs.

Similar Species

The Bahama mockingbird can be confused with the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottus), but can be differentiated by its more prominent streaking and the larger white tips on its tail feathers in the subspecies M. g. hillii.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Bahama mockingbird includes invertebrates, nectar, small fruits, and occasionally small lizards. It is an adaptable feeder, foraging both on the ground and in vegetation.

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Bahama mockingbird as Least Concern. It is commonly found in its native range, but there is potential for future competition with the northern mockingbird as human habitation expands.