Blues and Mockingbirds

12 years ago

I'm new to bluebirding in the South, having moved to middle Tennessee from Northern Indiana. We live on a large acreage with woods, meadows and ponds, and have a large variety of birds.

We put up three bluebird boxes in late winter. One box was quickly claimed by a pair of BBs, who are about to fledge their second brood of 6. Because there are no trees near the box, we put up a metal tree sculpture which the Blues use nearly every time they enter or leave the box. They don't mind sharing it with Goldfinches, but if a Mockingbird perches, there's war.

Obviously, the mockers are too large to get into the box, but are they any real danger to the blues or their babies? I never saw MBs where we were in Indiana, so this is new to me!!

Here is a link that might be useful:

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Comments (5)

katiedidcottage
12 years ago
I guess no one has had any trouble with mockingbirds in the south, but I have. I did a websearch for bluebirds and mockingbirds and found some good things to read. Mockingbirds are VERY territorial. I am home most of the time because of being laid off, and once when coming home from the post office, there was a large mockingbird on top of the bluebird house full of little babies. I jumped out of my car like a maniac and ran toward it, and it flew into a nearby smallish tree and I shook the tree and it flew away. I thought his behavior looked had threatening air towards the bluebirds. So that's when I read up on it. I'm sure you can find some other good information if you do a websearch on "bluebirds and mockingbirds".

I'm so happy that the bluebirds there are having such big nestings of 6! I know that is very exciting to watch. I'd love to see a picture of your sculpture also. I love to watch the bluebirds go on their chosen perch and watch after their brood.
bandjzmom
12 years ago
Hey there hostagrams. I have lots of Mockingbirds in my Georgia yard and have spent a good deal of time observing them. They are extremely territorial and have been known to divebomb ANYthing that comes near to their nests or babies. I have also hosted Bluebirds for many years. I don't feel that the Mockingbirds are a danger to the Blues. If the Mockers have built a nest near to the Bluebird box, they will defend that territory which can be a pain in the neck for the Blues. However, I feel that the Blues will be patient and work around them. It is a situation which is naturally encountered by all birds, and I think that they instinctively know how best to deal with it. Many a nest of Bluebirds has succesfully fledged in spite of an ornery territorial Mocker. :o)
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arleneb
Original Author
12 years ago
This morning I had a whole flock of MBs -- 8 or 10 of them -- perching on the Blues' tree, nest box, and using their birdbath. Mama Blue got chased off a couple of times but finally sneaked in to feed the babies. The Mockers harrassed her for a while and finally seemed to lose interest -- but the Blues were really distressed for a while.

This last week is the first time I've seen the Mockers up here . . . hope they move on or go back into the woods!

Katiedid, here's a shot of one of my bird tree sculptures; I'll post a picture of the other one on a new thread.

Here is a link that might be useful:
katiedidcottage
12 years ago
I love that sculpture. I think I'll get one of those bottle trees that I've seen for sale near Memphis the next time we go over to that area to visit my daughter. Bottle trees are really beautiful to have in your yard.
bettycbowen
12 years ago
I have lots of mockingbirds too, and they don't seem to be a problem. I like them because they harass the starlings.

Yesterday I was watching a juvenile bb getting a worm in my backyard, and as soon as he got it out of the ground, a starling snatched it from him and flew a few feet away with it before taking it up to feed its young. The blue just sat there with his mouth open, then flew up to the power line and chirped and chirped for a long time. So anything that annoys the starlings works for me.

Blues and Mockingbirds

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katiedidcottage

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