The Bahama mockingbird is a species of bird in the family Mimidae. It is found in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is a vagrant to Florida.
Region
Caribbean
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, and Jamaica, with rare vagrants to Florida. Prefers dry coastal scrub, thorny thickets, open second-growth, and edges of pine or coppice woodlands. Also uses mangrove margins and semi-urban lots with dense shrub cover. It is generally a lowland bird that thrives in xeric, brushy environments with scattered perches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A gifted songster, the Bahama mockingbird delivers long, varied sequences and can mimic other bird species and environmental sounds. It favors dry, scrubby habitats more than the Northern Mockingbird and often sings from prominent perches. It is resident across several Caribbean islands and is an occasional vagrant to southern Florida.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, strongly defending territories during the breeding season. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense shrubs or small trees. Pairs are monogamous for the season and may raise multiple broods when conditions allow.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Rich, varied, and sustained song with repeated phrases and mimicry of other birds. Loud and far-carrying, often delivered from exposed perches at dawn and dusk, and sometimes at night.
