We were visited by a Northern Mockingbird this afternoon. While the plumage of this bird is subdued, its song is complex and beautiful, giving it its latin name, Mimus polyglottos, the many-tongued mimic. It serenaded us for several minutes while feeding.

While the plumage is simple, the details are fascinating. The eye ring and whiskers under the beak are not features seen by the casual observer. However, this mockingbird is common throughout much of the US. Click on either image for a larger view.