10.0 inches long. The Northern Mockingbird has a gray head and upperparts. The short rounded wings have white wing bars connected by a white patch that is easily seen in flight. It has a yellow eye. The bill is slender and somewhat down curved. The legs are black. The underparts are white. The tail is long and black with white outer tail feathers.
The Northern Mockingbird is an occasionally seen permanent nomadic visitor to the area but seldom seen in the Forest.
The Northern Mockingbird is most often found in scrubby habitats. It eats a wide variety of fruit and insects. It prefers habitats such as park and cultivated lands and second growth at low elevations. It has expanded northward during the past century due to its use of suburbs and second growth areas. The songs are acquired through imitating the calls and songs of other birds. The is a series of varied phrases with each repeated two to six times. Many times these phrases are mimicking other species.
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