IBRC 68-B-11

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Northern Mockingbird
HOW MANY: 1

REPORTER: Darren Clark
REPORTER EMAIL: clarkd@byui.edu
OTHER OBSERVERS:

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 12/18/2011
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 12/18/2011

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Burton, Madison County
HABITAT: backyard trees on edge of farm fields
CONDITIONS: I saw the bird for about 30 seconds. It was calm and sunny. The bird was in pretty good light. It was side-lit. I was about 50 yards from the bird. I was using Nikon Venturer 8x32 and a Canon 400 mm lens.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: No, not at all
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

DESCRIPTION: The bird is a Thrasher. It has a longish, somewhat downturned bill. It has yellowish eyes. It was overall gray in plumage. It has a long tail. When it flew I could see two white wing patches.
BEHAVIOR: The bird was sitting in a tree. It eventually flushed as I tried to get closer for a better photograph. At this point I could see the white wing patches.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? When I drove past the bird I assumed it was a Northern Shrike. It was shrike sized and pretty much looked light gray. I backed up to take a photograph of it and through the camera noticed a thinner (non-hooked bill). I then knew it was a Mockingbird. I got a few diagnostic photographs. As I walked closer to get a better angle and a better photograph the bird flushed and I could really see the long tail and white wing patches.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Shrike was eliminated by bill shape and structure. I can't think of any other similar species.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I've seen hundreds of Mockingbirds on the gulf coast and Utah/Arizona. I've seen around ten mockingbirds in Idaho.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I've been birding for about 18 years. I'm a good birder.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo