Normally when I see a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), it is perched in a tree. This past Wednesday at Occoquan Bay National WIidlife Refuge, I spotted one foraging in a field. The mockingbird was perched on the stalks of the vegetation and periodically would bend down and grab a few seeds.
I love the way that the cooler tones of the bird contrast with the warmer shades of the vegetation and the background. That contrast makes this fairly common bird really stand out and shine.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Lovely tones and what a nice sharp shot!
This really is interesting. I’ve never seen a mockingbird at a feeder (unless fruit was involved) and I didn’t know they’d eat seeds. Sure enough — they prefer insects, but will feed on fruit and seeds in fall and winter. Maybe this one was feeling a shortage of insects.
There are not a whole lot of insects moving about at the moment–that should change as the weather continues to warm up. I’ve learned that a lot of the birds that overwinter with us switch diets with the seasons. I guess when your survival depends on it,, you’ll eat almost anything. 🙂
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