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Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Cathy on 6/18/2026, 12:49 pm

I went to Walgreens after work yesterday and felt as if I were watching my own personal PBS wildlife special. Two mockingbirds were having an aerial battle. One was the aggressor and the other just wanted to get the heck out of there but every time he tried, the aggressor would fly after him and continue the fight leaving the other bird no choice but to try to defend himself. He'd fly to a tree to get away but it was no use.

Back and forth, up and down, over and over, beating each other up with their wings and bumping chests. Then a female mockingbird showed up looking very upset.

Mockingbirds are fast! There was no way I could try to intervene, too high up. When my back was turned they left so I didn't see where they ended up or how it was resolved.

I don't know a lot about mockingbirds so I'm not sure if the aggressor was defending a nest to the point of it wasn't enough to run the other bird off; it meant serious business.

Cathy

Re: Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Seesthru, TC advisor on 6/18/2026, 2:01 pm, in reply to "Mockingbirds ..."

Mockingbirds will aggressively defend their territory during nesting season. They will go after eagles, hawks, rows, anyone or anything they consider a threat. They even bonk people and go after dogs and cats!

They are fierce!

Re: Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Cathy on 6/22/2026, 2:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Mockingbirds ..."

I know from personal experience. Years back a yearling that hadn't leaned to fly yet must have fallen out of its nest. He/she landed on my sublevel patio. It was stuck there. So I headed out there to pick him up and put him on the lawn for the parents to find. As I was bending over, the father or mother mockingbird bonked me really hard on the back of my head! I turned around and told it "I'm just trying to help your baby, for crying out loud!" It's as if the parent understood what I was saying as it didn't dive bomb me again.

Cathy

Re: Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Seesthru, TC advisor on 6/22/2026, 4:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Mockingbirds ..."

Babies like mockingbirds, blue jays and cardinals leave the nest before they can fly. They usually make their way to a bush to stay hidden, and wander around for a few days until they can fly. The parents feed and protect them.

I think that happens because as they grow, they outgrow the news, and maybe the odors form the nest attract predators. So, the little things end up on the ground, wandering around, looking for a bush or small tree to climb into!

YOu probably helped that little one on it's journey to it's safer spot! But yeah, you will get bonked!LOL

Re: Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Cathy on 6/23/2026, 3:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Mockingbirds ..."

LOL!

There's no way he could have hopped or climbed out on his own. In the past I've rescued baby bunnies, birds, even put out a long cardboard tube thingy for a possum to use as a ramp to climb out.

It's not a total trap. I forgot about my overflow pipe. It sits low just above the patio floor and opens at the other end to the sidewalk. But most babies wouldn't be able to figure that out.

Cathy

Re: Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Seesthru, TC advisor on 6/23/2026, 10:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Mockingbirds ..."

The babies aren't too smart at that age.

Re: Mockingbirds ...

Posted by Cathy on 6/25/2026, 12:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Mockingbirds ..."

In my earlier post I meant to write fledgling, not yearling, LOL.

Cathy

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