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Revision as of 11:39, 30 July 2008

Mimus gilvus

Photo by Richard Fray
Locality: Port Elizabeth, Bequia, Grenadines.

Identification

Total length 23-26 cm (9-10 in). A medium-sized mockingbird with a long tail. It is overall grey with whitish underparts. The wings are blackish with whitish edging often forming two narrow wing-bars. The tail is mainly blackish, but the outer rectrices are broadly white-tipped (best seen when the tail is spread or from below). The whitish eye-brow is border below by the dusky lores and faint post-ocular streak/spot. Females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles resemble adults, but are generally browner and with dusky streaking to the flanks (some adults retain slight streaking to the lower flanks). The numerous races vary mainly in size and plumage tone, e.g. blackness of wings and/or strenght of white eye-brow.

In the limited area of overlap in southern Mexico, it can be separated from the very similar Northern Mockingbird by the lack of a whitish patch near the base of the primaries. The voices of the Tropical and the Northern Mockingbird are virtually inseparable. In the coastal regions of Brazil the Tropical Mockingbird overlaps with the Chalk-browed Mockingbird, which is browner and has a stronger post-ocular streak/spot.

Distribution

It is widespread from southern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula, south through Central America, to northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, far northern Brazil, far northern Ecuador and the Guianas), and coastal Brazil. It also occus in the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago, San Andrés Island, (off E. Nicaragua) and Cozumel Island.

Taxonomy

It has been suggested that the subspecies magnirostris (from San Andrés Is.) and antelius (from coastal Brazil) should be regarded as separate species. Hybrids between the closely related Tropical and Northern Mockingbird have been reported from Mexico.
Polytypic. Consists of ten subspecies.

Habitat

It occurs in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including fields, scrub, savanna, farmland and parks. Often near humans. It avoids dense forest. Race antelius is restricted to restinga (a type of coastal scrub).

Behaviour

Omnivorous. Has been recorded taking fruits, berries, insects and bird eggs. It is bold, aggressive and territorial. Typically lives in small groups, comprising a monogamous pair, and their offspring from earlier broods, which help raising new broods.

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