TheBahama mockingbird(Mimus gundlachii) is a species ofbirdin the familyMimidae.It is found in theBahamas,Cuba,Jamaicaand theTurks and Caicos Islands,and is avagranttoFlorida.[2][3]
| Bahama mockingbird | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Ciego de Avila Province, Cuba | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Mimidae |
| Genus: | Mimus |
| Species: | M. gundlachii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mimus gundlachii Cabanis,1855
| |
| |
Taxonomy and systematics
editThe Bahama mockingbird has two subspecies, the nominateMimus gundlachii gundlachiiandM. g. hillii.[2]Its specific epithet honors Juan Gundlach.[4]
Description
editThe Bahama mockingbird is 28 cm (11 in) long and weighs between 57 and 85 g (2.0 and 3.0 oz) with an average of 66.8 g (2.36 oz). Adults of the nominate subspecies have a mottled face with a palesupercilium.Their upperparts are brownish gray with dark streaks from the crown to the lower back. Their outer tail feathers have whitish tips. Their underparts are light gray with light streaking on the upper breast and more prominent streaks on the flanks. The juvenile is similar but has more densely spotted underparts.M. g. hilliihas more prominent streaking on its back than the nominate and the white tips on the tail feathers are larger.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThe nominate subspecies of Bahama mockingbird is found in the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and theSabana-Camagüey Archipelagooff Cuba's north coast.M. g. hilliiis found only in southern Jamaica.[4]
Except in Jamaica, the Bahama mockingbird inhabits a variety of biomes including coastal strand, semi-arid scrub, open woodland, and plantations. In Jamaica it inhabits dry scrubby woodland on limestone hills. It appears to favor taller, denser vegetation than the similarnorthern mockingbird(Mimus polyglottus) where their ranges overlap.[4]
Behavior
editFeeding
editThe Bahama mockingbird is omnivorous; its diet includes invertebrates, nectar, small fruits, and little lizards. It mainly forages on the ground, searching through leaf litter, but also hunts up to 6 m (20 ft) high in vegetation. It aggressively defends feeding sites.[4]
Breeding
editThe Bahama mockingbird's breeding season spans from February to July in most areas but from April on the Cuban islands. Both sexes build a rough open cup nest of twigs, lined with softer fibers, and usually placed low in a bush. They aggressively defend their territory with vigorous song. The clutch size is two or three.[4]
Vocalization
edit
The Bahama mockingbird's song is loud and repetitive, a "series of abrupt, varied notes and phrases, with repetition". It apparently does not mimic other birds' songs.[4]
Status
editTheIUCNhas assessed the Bahama mockingbird as being of Least Concern.[1]It is common in the Bahamas, in southern Jamaica, and on some of the Cuban cays. As human habitation spreads it might suffer from competition with the northern mockingbird.[4]
References
edit- ^abBirdLife International. (2016)."Mimus gundlachii".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T22711032A94274517.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22711032A94274517.en.
- ^abGill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021)."IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)".RetrievedJuly 14,2021.
- ^"Official Florida State Bird List".Florida Ornithological Society. June 22, 2021.RetrievedJuly 20,2021.
- ^abcdefghCody, M. L. (2020). Bahama Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bahmoc.01retrieved July 20, 2021