Texas State Bird - The Mockingbird

The mockingbird was adopted as the Texas state bird in 1927 at the request of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, mainly because of its pretty singing. At one time the the mockingbird was considered a Southern bird but it has since spread its wings to populate Northern and Western states as well.

One of the main traits of the mockingbird is it's ability to mimic the songs of other bird - hence the name mockingbird. It is more than a mimic, however, as it sings its own songs as well.

In addition to being the Texas state bird, the mockingbird is also the state bird of Arkansas where it is known as the Northern Mockingbird , Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

The mockingbird is typically 10 inches in length with a fairly long tail. These birds are not migratory birds, and once they inhabit an area, they tend to stay there year round.

Both the male and the female share equal duties in building the nest which is normally built in a tree at a height of from 3 to 10 feet above the ground. The young birds grow up quickly, leaving the nests in a little as ten days after birth.

The mocking bird diet mainly consists of insects - caterpillars, beetles, ants, grasshoppers and spiders - but they love fruits as well. In fact, if fruit exists in their environment, it's not uncommon to find it making up to 50% of their food choices. And in the winter as their insect sources of food begin to disappear, fruits become an even greater percentage of their food source.

If you want to attract mockingbirds to your bird feeders or birdhouses, they enjoy plants and fruits such as hollies, blackberries, elderberries, wild grapes, hackberries, dogwoods, red cedar, and sumacs.

The mockingbird is not afraid to protect it's next and territory. It has even been known to attack predators as big as a cat if it thought the cat was encroaching too much on its territory. If you enjoy the constant sound of music in your back yards, these are great birds to attract to your garden.

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