The number of Northern Mockingbirds in the Toronto area seems to vary from year to year with there being somewhat fewer at the moment.

They can be seen in suburban neighbourhoods and brushy fields (like the one at Marie Curtis Park) foraging on the ground or in low brush for insects and fruit.

“Mocking” refers to their incredible ability to accurately imitate the songs of other birds.

Mockingbirds are highly territorial and nearly always seen singly or in family groups in summer.

The photographed bird likely vigorously defends this crab apple tree from other birds.

Other birds:

Species list:  Canada goose, mallard, common merganser, red-breasted merganser, hooded merganser, turkey vulture, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, belted kingfisher, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, cedar waxwing, northern mockingbird, American robin, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch. (21 species)

Park scenes:

Some botany:

Today’s group:

POETRY

My old friend’s said goodbye to the west, here at Yellow Crane Tower,
In the third month’s cloud of willow blossoms, he’s going down to Yangzhou.
The lonely sail is a distant shadow, on the edge of a blue emptiness,
All I see is the Yangtze River flow to the far horizon. – Li Bai

Miles Hearn