A Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) hung out in my backyard in Santa Ana (Valle del Sol, Lindora) all day today. I heard it singing earlier in the morning (I was able to get some song recordings). It continued to sing until early afternoon.I'm not aware of a Mimus gilvus sighting in the Central Valley. Does anyone else have a report of the mockingbird in the Central Valley?
Lance
March 8, 2009
4 comments:
I see Tropical Mockingbird very often near my house in Paraíso de Cartago, also in my backyard sometimes, coming to the banana feeders between tanagers and saltators...I think in Lankaster Garden area there should be one or a couple around too...
A pair has been seen at the golf course in Santa Ana as well.
January15-17, Dan Keller had Tropical Mockingbird in Guapiles.
He has had a bunch of interesting records from this for the Caribbean lowlands- I will send that info to Jim Zook soon.
Saw one today in grounds of Casa Turrire, Turrialba.
I don't know if this is the correct place to leave this note. I have what looks like a mockingbird or thrasher in my yard but it doesn't match any descriptions in the guide books. It seems to match the Tropical mockingbird except for the breast colour. Here's the description: a single bird, looking like a mockingbird or thrasher, with very conspicuous white in the tail (rather like a White-tipped dove, it seems) when flying. It sat next to a Baltimore oriole at my feeder (bananas), allowing a size comparison. It was very much bigger than the oriole, so I calculate at least 10 or 11 inches. It then flew off into a eucaliptus tree. I saw it only briefly at the feeder, which is in a guayabo tree. It has a conspicuous yellow eye with a black line or mask through it, and a long straight bill. It is grey in colour overall, but the belly is white. I was unable to check for wing bars. It did not call. It seemed to cock its tail. The main problem with this bird is that it has a dark, muted yellow breast. I assumed it was a bird I'd never seen before (I am unfamiliar with Tropical mockingbirds, but know Northern mockingbirds very well, but I was astonished not to find a bird matching the description in Garrigues or in Stiles and Skutch. It might match the Tropical mockingbird except for the breast coloration. Could it get stained somehow, or is there some South American vagrant of which I am ignorant? I observed it in good light but only for about 15 seconds from a distance of about 15 yards. It reappeared very briefly, and I was able to confirm the main points of identification. My wife says she saw it also on Friday but assumed it was a bird I knew. I failed to get a photograph but hope to get one if it reappears tomorrow. This seems fairly likely, I would say.
If anyone can help, my telephone number here in San Antonio, near Santa Cruz, Turrialba, is 2 538 64 57.
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