Whatbird.com

 

I hope the pic comes up......I did everything I was told.

 

If not, heres a description....

I saw the bird in a clearing in the woods.  It seems bigger, at first....but it was probably between the size of a large sparrow and a small robin.  It was dark gray above, lighter gray (almost white) below.  His bill was shorter than the head, pointed and black.  Black legs and feet.  He had a semi-long tail that was the darkest part of the bird.  On the side of each wing is a very noticable white patch.....and when flying, the white in the birds wings becomes very obvious.....quite beautiful too.

 

http://forum.grasscity.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/29662/ppuser/50675  This is the link where the bird is...in case it doesn't come up.

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Total ('08 and Life): 156

Most recent: Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

Favs: Indigo Bunting, Cerulean Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker

Definately mockingbird.  Too large to be a gnatcatcher, and they dont hav the white wing bars.

the Blue-gray gnatcatcher has been described as a mini mockingbird but they are only about 4 inches long and rarely would you see them sitting still.  THey flit about among the leaves of trees searching for small bugs (gnats) just a fussin' all the while. 

That white patch you see when the mockers fly is a dead give away

 

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Matthew 6:26

Also a mocker is longer than most robins, but slimmer. The tail is significantly longer. You def. have a beautiful mockingbird.

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"I put it down. you gotta pick it up." —Thelonious Monk

Don't forget about the song! BG Gnatcatchers make a little "zzz.zzz" as they fly around. A mocker would sing ( quite well!) or chirp loudly.

I have to admit the first time I saw gnatcatchers, I thought " who shrunk the mockingbird?".

 

 

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Don't cry because it's over, smile because you were there.

At first I thought it wasn't a Mockingbird because the photo in my field guide....and online show a much meaner, more haggard looking bird.  Then I found a photo of a juvenile.....it might has well have been the bird I photographed.

 

Thanks for the help.  I'm loading up some pics of a hawk I saw a few days ago.  Pretty sure it was a Cooper's.....it dove down and perched on a branch.....then attacked a finch on the ground near a feeder......sounds like everything I've heard about Cooper's.  Yet, my pictures look a lot like a Sharp-shinned......we'll see.

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Total ('08 and Life): 156

Most recent: Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

Favs: Indigo Bunting, Cerulean Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker