I’m surprised they haven’t migrated south by now but I’ve seen several of them the last few days in the mountains and on the valley floors. According to Cornell’s Birds of North America Online the migratory habits of mockingbirds aren’t well understood (they have surprisingly little info on the subject) but I know that around here I’m not used to seeing them this late in the year.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this bird yesterday morning in Northern Utah. I believe all seven of these images are of the same bird. ‘He’ (I don’t really know its sex) kept returning to the same bush and often to the same couple of perches on that bush.
This shot is pretty much just a ‘bird on a stick’ but…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
the first time he landed here he showed me just a little more personality with this angled head pose.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I spent ten minutes with him as he popped in and out of the bush but I was mostly frustrated for a variety of reasons. I liked the leaf colors when he landed here but he had his butt to me and refused to turn his head in my direction.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Seven minutes later when he returned to a similar perch and struck an almost identical pose he actually did turn to look my way but I was stymied by the foreground leaves in front of his feet.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This was his other favorite perch while I was with him. I’m including this shot because I love the extreme angle of that tail. It almost looks like the tail is broken at its attachment to the body. I’m not sure I’ve ever photographed a bird bending its tail at 90 degrees to its body except for possibly a few times during preening (and as Susan Stone pointed out in a comment below, wrens do it regularly).
My biggest disappointments with this bird were with takeoff shots. I had hopes for two of them but I clipped a wing in both of them and each was a little soft.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
These two photos illustrate one of the problems with photographing takeoffs. When the shutter fires you don’t know what angle the bird will fly from the perch or whether the wings will be up or down so you also don’t know where to leave the most room in the frame. It’s a guessing game.
This time he went upwards and his wings were raised when the shutter clicked but…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
when he took off from the same perch again he flew horizontally and his wings were down. That’s a lot of room in the frame that you need to allow for, especially when you’re relatively close to the bird as I was.
I wish I’d been a little further away for the takeoff shots. That would have given me more room in the frame and a little more depth of field to hopefully get the bird sharper.
Next time…
Ron
What a fantastic series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Next time is the hope which teases us on isn’t it?
Though this time looks pretty damn spectacular to me.
Birds, like most other animate things I photograph, delight in giving me their butt (best side forward?). Perhaps if I adopt the tactic people would shy away from attempting to take my photo.
“Next time is the hope which teases us on isn’t it?”
It sure is, EC. About the only good thing about next time is it gives us a chance to learn from our mistakes…
They are a very pretty bird. Never seen one in person either. Love the pictures and the butt view. Seems like when I get a chance to take a picture of a deer the butt is facing me too!
Yes, it happens a lot with deer. Thank you, Trudy.
Amazing series of photos, Ron, Personally, I love the “butt shots” as they show the personality of the Mocker. Had to giggle when seeing the first one and the last butt shot was so true to mockingbird behavior. The takeoff and flight photos are wonderful (even if not technically to your satisfaction). Thank you for your love of songbirds and your patience in photographing them.
Not sure how much patience I have but I work at it, Melanie. Thanks.
Nice shots. Love watching these guys (or girls) 🤔 in my yard❗️
I had the most wonderful time yesterday at the Comsumes River Preserve here in Northern California. The Sandhill cranes are returning and boy are they. We got there before sunrise so we could only hear them. As the sun rose what a beautiful sight. So so many of them and geese , ducks , hawks and a Bald eagle ‼️ Best day ever😁
Have a great day Ron
I was expecting the caption for your third shot to read, “And here he’s showing me even more personality!” 😂 I guess I must be a bit odd because I find that even butt shots can be enchanting in their own way.
The takeoff shots are definite “wowzwers” with those beautiful primaries and the wing positions. I’m so glad they didn’t fall victim to your itchy delete trigger finger. 😉
That should be wowzers — not sure what autocorrect is thinking these days.
I always blame it on autocorrect too… 🙂
“I’m so glad they didn’t fall victim to your itchy delete trigger finger”
They damn near did, Marty, especially when I saw that they were soft. I don’t mind perched butt shots either if I have a good head turn toward me. I like butt shots much less when the bird’s in flight.
Beautiful shots! Even with the wing clips. I have noticed around here (Massachusetts) that some of the *Mockers* stick around. I photographed a couple numerous times last winter in a place that is loaded with berries and Sumac trees. Most the pics are behavioral shots of them eating, so I am still trying for a definitive flying picture with those gorgeous wings outstretched. I think you just about did it with the last photo!
Apparently they’ve been reported here all year, Joanne so on mild winters some of them must stick around. I’ve sure never seen them in winter though. Thanks.
Lots of things are wonderful about these photos, but especially that the eye is so prominent and clear in every one! Love the fall oak colors.
Thank you, Nancy.
Excellent shots Ron. The light in the eye is so perfect in all these shots. A very plain, but beautiful bird.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
“Plain” until they open their wings… Thanks, Everett.
I’ve always liked the jaunty angle at which Mockingbirds hold their tails. They always seem to have attitude. Small Wrens (like the Marsh Wren) hold their tails at a 90º angle, in my experience. I think, though I can’t swear to it, that we have Mockingbirds here all year. I’ll have to watch that this winter.
You’re right about wrens, Susan. Silly me, I didn’t think of that.
Much of the country does have them all year. Most of ours leave though.
Like Dick, we in Ontario always have a couple Northern Mockingbirds on the Christmas Bid Count. In fact the first one recorded on the CBC was in my backyard about 25 years ago. I love these birds as they are great company with their many different “languages” when I’m working in the garden, out in my local park or wandering around my local nursery and then when I go south.
They might be a common bird but your images make them look very elegant and beautiful, well except for the butt pictures! LOL
Yup, it’s hard to look elegant and refined when you’re showing your butt. They’re common in many areas but I usually don’t see very many of them around here.
Wonderful shots, Ron even with a bit of wing clipping in the last 2 shots…… 🙂 Definitely have “personality” and showed off “his” plumage well! 🙂 Heard more than seen here.
Judy, I don’t remember ever seeing them on the norther MT farm even though their breeding range goes into Alberta.
Great shots Ron, and for me I love the last two pictures, even though the primary ends are a tad cut, the images are magnificent.
Vermont has Mockingbirds, none where we live so far, but we get at least one or two on the Christmas count I participate in. We know they will stay till January. Haven’t seen them in the middle of winter however, but further south they are abundant.
I enjoy those two shots too, Dick. But I’d have liked them much better if I hadn’t clipped wings and were sharper.
Maybe they migrate later than I thought and I just haven’t seen them during this time of year. In much of the country they’re year-round residents but here most of them migrate.
Definitely a bird with an attitude! His wing display in your last two photos is beautiful. ❤️ The whites look painted on those feathers; in fact all the photos show the beautiful shading throughout the entire bird. Pity the person who only sees a bird as a bird and not a masterpiece of color! 😍
Yes, attitude drips from their every feather, Kathy. In some areas they’re known for attacking people and pets who approach their nests too closely but that’s a behavior I’ve yet to see.