For the past few weeks, a handsome Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, has spent a good portion of his days singing loudly and beautifully, serenading to inform the neighbors that this is his territory. Flitting from the Roughleaf Dogwood, Cornus drummondii, to other points of interest in the garden, he returns repeatedly to the dogwood to perch and sing.
Not only does the dogwood provide nice cover with its shade-producing foliage, but the luscious creamy fruits are a draw for many birds, especially this avian crooner.
I observed Mr. Vocalist for several days, attempting to get at least one decent photo of a berry in the beak. Finally–success! If you look at the above photo, you’ll notice a group of 4 berries. Now check out the photo below, you’ll see that 3 of the berries are still attached to the tree, and one berry has landed firmly in the bird’s beak.
He looks jaunty and a little cocky, as he’s nibbling another nosh.
The bird has gone quiet in the last couple of days and I haven’t spotted much mockingbird activity in the back garden. I still hear melodious mockingbird song, but no longer are avian arias performed, but only short stanzas in songbird voice. The dogwood berries have also mostly disappeared, with just a few hanging on near the ground.
The small tree provided for pollinators in the spring, shade and cover all summer, and berries in autumn. Roughleaf dogwoods are a good example of if you plant them, they will come.
My Gardener Says... 
Fantastic shots of the berry in its mouth. We usually have Mockingbird around here. I usually notice them in the spring.
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Thanks. I practiced a lot of patience for those! I usually don’t see mockingbirds in my back garden; for whatever reason, they prefer the front garden–except with various berries are ripe!
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That’s a nice visitor, good to get the berry eating shot!
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Thanks, Brian! It was lovely having him (and a friend or two) singing away!
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At least as long as you have fruit, he’ll sing for his supper! 🙂
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Lol–and he certainly did!
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Nice going on getting a couple of berry-in-beak pictures, which from experience I can confirm isn’t easy.
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Also, it was sunny every time I was trying for a shot, so that added to the challenge. Once I snagged a couple, I was VERY done!
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Wonderful captures, Tina. “Avian crooner” is a great name for this vocal acrobat. We only see (and hear) them during the summer and it’s noticeably quieter once they leave. I love listening to their amazing repertoire.
I hope (s)he will stay around for a while.
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Mocks have such a repertoire of songs and are so lovely to hear. I don’t often have mockingbirds visit the back garden, they much prefer the front. But when berries are ripe and available, all bets are off!
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Maybe you will be graced with this guest through the winter months.
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Oh, I fully expect that that guy and others of his sort will be at the Possumhaw berries within a couple of months, those red berries are a real draw!
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I laughed at your description of the bird as a ‘crooner.’ Other names get applied when one of these decides that 3 a.m. is the time to begin singing, and then doesn’t tire until 6 a.m.! They do seem to love berries of all sorts. I remembering seeing one plucking ripe palmetto fruits, although I’ve never seen them eating the fruits from our palm trees, despite other birds feasting away. I noticed this weekend that the yaupon berries are ripening; I suppose mockingbirds will enjoy those, too.
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Lol, yes, I’ve also heard them sing in the wee hours. Not so pretty then…:)
Mockingbirds, blue jays, squirrels, and who knows who else, will enjoy the crop of Possumhaw berries sometime in December/January!
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Hey Tina, what a charming visitor you have there. Great job getting the berry-in-the-beak shots. Just started working with local tree surgeons, and it’s always a delight to observe creatures like Mr. Vocalist. May we meet more of them. Cheers!
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‘Charming’ is the perfect word to use when referring to mockingbirds!
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Gorgeous pictures. Birds have been more prominent in my garden lately, including a fanciful mockingbird. I haven’t heard of Roughleaf dogwood. It seems to be a wonderful choice for your garden.
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Roughleaf dogwood is such a nice little tree: tough, blooms and berries, fall color. Win!
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