Blue Mockingbird
Blue Mockingbird
Melanotis caerulescens
At a Glance
Only distantly related to our Northern Mockingbird, this slaty-blue Mexican specialty is an elusive skulker of dense thickets. It has strayed north very rarely into southern Arizona, where some individuals have been known to linger for several months.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Desert and Arid Habitats, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Direct Flight, Rapid Wingbeats
Range & Identification
Description
9 1/2-11" (24-27 cm). Dark slaty or gray-blue all over, with a hint of blurry streaks. Note black mask, red eyes.
Size
About the size of a Robin
Wing Shape
Broad
Tail Shape
Long, Rounded, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
Complex song of varied notes, many melodic, but occasional harsh notes. Wide variety of calls. Does not mimic other birds’ songs.
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