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
20 Comments
Were was the referee all that time?
Great series Steve
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.
Wow! What a series Steve. Had to be over food, a chickiebabe, or housing. Great capture !
Graeat photos ! #nature #wildlife
Wow, these are amazing!
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?
Great action shots Steve. Was there a winner declared?
My guess that it was a fight over territory. The last photo shows the winner. Lol
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
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:-)
Amazing photo series Steve!
Nice shots, not seen anything like this but I hear birds bickering often here. Usually scrub jays.
Great shots, Steve. That’s a nasty fight!
Outstanding action shots!!! Great job!
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.
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.
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.
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!!
Kit, Thanks for sharing your experience with the fighting Mockingbirds.
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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