Do Northern Mockinbirds run like RoadRunners on the ground? (1 Viewer)

Do Northern Mockingbirds run like Road-Runners on the ground?

I was watching a bird earlier today (on the ground) that I thought was a Northern Mockingbird, but its tail looked clearly longer and it had a very, very dark black "eye mask" that extended from well in front of the eye to well behind the eye. It also had dark wing markings. And it ran along the ground like a road runner - head down, tail back and legs going very fast.

Is this normal mockingbird behaviour? I've never really watched them on the ground before.

I saw him in central Maryland running through short scrub brush type meadow foliage.

It sounds like a mockingbird. I have seen them run like that before. I have also seen their markings vary a bit. When I lived in New Jersey, there was one that lived near my house with more prominent black markings, like you have mentioned.
Maybe someone else will come along with a different and better idea.

Good luck
Elizabeth

birdpotter said:

It sounds like a mockingbird. I have seen them run like that before. I have also seen their markings vary a bit. When I lived in New Jersey, there was one that lived near my house with more prominent black markings, like you have mentioned.
Maybe someone else will come along with a different and better idea.

Good luck
Elizabeth

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Thanks Elizabeth - When you hear hoofbeats think horses, not zebras