MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS   -   MIMIDAE

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Las Guacamayas, Chiapas state, Mexico. A familiar bird to many North Americans, but it was interesting to see them in a steamy Mexican rainforest with antthrushes, spadebills, and the like. (S5)

Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus antelius Barra Grande, Bahia state, Brazil. A silly name considering that there are at least ten mockingbirds that occur in tropical areas. This one is widespread in the northern Neotropics, becoming scarcer as you move south. (D3)

Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus tolimensis(?) RNA Arrierito Antioqueño, Anorí, Antioquia department, Colombia. (D3)

Long-tailed Mockingbird Mimus longicaudatus albogriseus El Empalme, Loja province, Ecuador. The typical mockingbird of western Ecuador and western Peru, restricted to arid areas. (S5)

Long-tailed Mockingbird Mimus longicaudatus longicaudatus Chaparrí Reserve, Lambayeque department, Peru.. (S6)

Chilean Mockingbird Mimus thenca La Campana NP, Region V, Chile. A well-named bird since it is truly endemic to temperate central Chile. (S5)

Patagonian Mockingbird Mimus patagonicus Quilmes, Tucumán province, Argentina. This mocker is widespead in Argentina. (S5)

Patagonian Mockingbird Mimus patagonicus Pali Aike National park, Region XII, Chile. However, it occurs mainly east of the Andes, and it is uncommon and local in Chile. (S5)

Patagonian Mockingbird Mimus patagonicus Pali Aike National park, Region XII, Chile. This is the same bird as in the above photo. It's a closer and sharper shot, but the angle isn't great. (S5)

Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus frater Pousada Piuval, Pantanal, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The common mocker over much of eastern South America. (S6)

Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus frater Pousada Piuval, Pantanal, Mato Grosso state, Brazil. (S5)		Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus modulator Quinta, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. (D4)

Galapagos Mockingbird Nesomimus parvulus bauri Genovesa Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. The most widespread of the four mockingbirds on the Galapagos. There are several subspecies described, but the differences are minor. This is the subspecies endemic to Genovesa Island. (S5)

Galapagos Mockingbird Nesomimus parvulus parvulus Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. It was not clear to me what this bird was doing with that leaf. This is the most common subspecies, the one found on the larger islands. (S5)

Española (Hood) Mockingbird Mimus macdonaldi Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. These mockingbirds are some of the coolest creatures living on the Galapagos. They are completely fearless of humans and amazingly curious, always scurrying in to check out new arrivals to the island. They seem to be very tied to the other creatures on the island. This photo shows them checking inspecting a sea lion for any tasty parasites that might be on it. As fresh water is scarce during the long dry season, they will even drink out of the nostrils of sleeping sea lions! (S5)

Española (Hood) Mockingbird Mimus macdonaldi Punta Suarez, Española Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. A different bird scouring a Marina Iguana Amblyrhynchus cristatus. (S5)

Ocellated Thrasher Toxostoma ocellatum villai Monte Alban, Oaxaca state, Mexico. Endemic to central Mexico. Most of the year these birds stay down in the dense scrub and are almost impossible to see. Only during the breeding season are they likely to come up to the top to sing. (S5)