An Amazing Fight Between 2 Mockingbirds

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Fighting Mockingbirds

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

Mockingbirds Fighting

This was the longest bird fight I think I ever witnessed. The last photo shows the one Mockingbird being held down for a 10 count.

Mockingbirds are territorial and they will attempt to defend their areas against other mockingbirds. The same sexes typically take each other on, with the males battling any male mockingbirds that cross into their territory and females trying to run off other females. The encounters between males can escalate into all-out fights with sparring birds deploying their claws and using their bills. Often, one of the birds will simply retreat to avoid a fight.

Read more: Mockingbirds & Aggressive Behavior | eHow.com

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20 Comments

  1. Posted October 11, 2010 at 5:56 am by Michel Rondeau | Permalink

    Were was the referee all that time?
    Great series Steve

  2. Posted October 11, 2010 at 6:13 am by Bill | Permalink

    Territory battles can be extreme even with small birds. A reminder that dominance is a major player in the natural world. I’d like to think humans are beyond that but that would be foolish.

  3. Posted October 11, 2010 at 7:19 am by Lili Feldman | Permalink

    Wow! What a series Steve. Had to be over food, a chickiebabe, or housing. Great capture !

  4. Posted October 11, 2010 at 7:22 am by Risovic | Permalink

    Graeat photos ! #nature #wildlife

  5. Posted October 11, 2010 at 7:40 am by Mindy | Permalink

    Wow, these are amazing!

  6. Posted October 11, 2010 at 7:48 am by Barbara | Permalink

    Phenomenal series – most unusual – well done Steve – wonder what it was about – like Lili – I think it was likely about a nest or a mate? It was pretty extreme to be over just food. But who knows?

  7. Posted October 11, 2010 at 8:14 am by DD | Permalink

    Great action shots Steve. Was there a winner declared? :)

  8. Posted October 11, 2010 at 8:19 am by Steve Creek | Permalink

    My guess that it was a fight over territory. The last photo shows the winner. Lol

  9. Posted October 11, 2010 at 9:02 am by Ferran | Permalink

    Bird fights are always amazing to see. Watch these two young males of Plumbeous Water-redstart fighting for territory! http://goo.gl/YoDE They are smaller than Mockingbirds, but very aggressive as shown on the video

  10. Posted October 11, 2010 at 9:27 am by Maria Rosa | Permalink

    The mockingbirds outside where I work have been in territorial squabbles of some kind for a few weeks but have not seen them fighting on the ground so these pics are superb. I was at a spiritual retreat this weekend and had lots of time for nature walks where the retreat center is surrounded by forest. The mockingbirds there were busy singing their hearts out!!! Glad I experienced this beautiful side of them:-)

  11. Posted October 11, 2010 at 11:20 am by Linda Rockwell | Permalink

    Amazing photo series Steve!

  12. Posted October 11, 2010 at 11:52 am by Becky L. | Permalink

    Nice shots, not seen anything like this but I hear birds bickering often here. Usually scrub jays.

  13. Posted October 11, 2010 at 12:18 pm by Scott | Permalink

    Great shots, Steve. That’s a nasty fight!

  14. Posted October 12, 2010 at 11:00 am by Beverly Everson | Permalink

    Outstanding action shots!!! Great job!

  15. Posted October 12, 2010 at 12:28 pm by Judi | Permalink

    Never realized how much their feet are used in their fighting, #3 with a foot wrapped around the beak, and #5. Now I know why I sometimes see birds with parts of their toes missing. Loved the series, could feel the action.

  16. Posted February 27, 2011 at 11:32 am by Chip Miller | Permalink

    No website, just a Flickr account. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22888993@N03/) Was this encounter fatal for the lower mockingbird, or was it just a passing dominance issue? I came across two European starlings engaged in such a battle once and one appeared to be trying to kill the other. Luckily a car came by and the fight broke up. Did the loser here fly off? Great series of action photos.

  17. Posted February 27, 2011 at 11:40 am by Steve Creek | Permalink

    Chip, the loosing mockingbird did survive and I did see it fly away. This fight lasted several minutes and covered a large area. I would guess a city block.

  18. Posted March 9, 2012 at 10:22 am by Kit | Permalink

    I was doing a search to see why mockingbirds fight like this. Saw your photos. I came across a fight this morning while walking the dog. A neighbor & I watched them fight in the same area for about 5 min or more, than fly to another spot, & then several other spots. Another bird kept watch at each spot. I assumed they were fighting over territory or a female. I’m in east/central FL & I would assume it’s close to mating season here. The birds were still fighting after we walked on. Must have been at least 15 min time that we were watching. Loved your pictures. Spot on!!

  19. Posted March 9, 2012 at 11:31 am by Steve Creek | Permalink

    Kit, Thanks for sharing your experience with the fighting Mockingbirds.

  20. Posted May 22, 2012 at 7:53 pm by Lola | Permalink

    I watch the mocking birds at my house all the time. I still don’t know why they fight. There is a big hawk that lives on the property also. He often perches on a light pole. I watch the mocking birds swoop down to him (hard) and it doesn’t phase the hawk.
    Do they thing they can fight him??????

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