Species · GBIF taxon 5231680
Bahama Mockingbird
Mimus gundlachiiAlso known as Gundlach's Mockingbird
Bahama mockingbirds are large, heavily streaked songbirds that thrive in the dry scrub, coastal coppice, and pineyards of the Caribbean. They sing rich, varied melodies from prominent perches, repeating musical phrases fewer times than their northern cousins. These bold birds spend much of their time on the ground, running and hopping through leaf litter to stir up food.
VocalistIsland DwellerForager
Licensed reference(c) Laura Gooch, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Omnivorous (insects, wild fruits, and small lizards)
- family
- Mimidae
- threats
- Habitat loss from coastal development, invasive predators, and severe hurricanes
- life Span
- 6 to 10 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Listen closely: Distinguish its song from the Northern Mockingbird by its slower, less repetitive phrasing.
- Scan the undergrowth: Look for them running on the ground beneath low shrubs rather than flying high.
- Watch the perch: Look at the very top of snags or utility poles where males sing to defend territory.