Ashley and Crippen Photographers, Toronto|Corporate Headshots/Executive Headshots 

Birds

Northern Mockingbird

A bird that prefers warmer climates, the Northern mockingbird is found across the south- its name comes because there are other mockingbirds in the Southern Hemisphere. It nests low down in a tree or shrub, building a cup of twigs lines with soft plant fibers, to hold its 3-5 blue-green eggs. These are incubated by the female bird for about 12 to 13 days; the young birds are ready to leave the nest around 9-12 days later. The adult is a slender bird with a long tail that it often flicks sideways. It is gray above and white beneath, with two white wing bars. In flight, its tail is black and white outer feathers, and it flashes large white wing patches. It is an excellent mimic, not only copying birdsongs but alos the sound of cars, machinery and sirens. The Northern Mockingbird is very territorial and defends its ground aggressively. It likes open grassy areas for feeding, with nearby foliage to hide its nest, and perches for the male to sing and warn off intruders-so suburban gardens are an ideal habitat. It eats insects, spiders and berries; often flashing its wings while foraging on the ground-possibly to scare insects out of hiding.