Española Mockingbird Mimus macdonaldi Scientific name definitions

Up until recently the mockingbirds of the Galapagos were considered to form a separate genus, Nesomimus. Now molecular data confirms that they are imbedded within typical Mimus, so they have been shifted to this typical mockingbird genus. The Española Mockingbird forms a clade (related group) with the San Cristobal Mockingbird as well as the bauri subspecies of the Galapagos Mockingbird. Española Mockingbirds, still sometimes known by their old name Hood Mockingbird are the passerine standouts on Española. This island is well known for its seabirds, including the fantastic colony of Waved Albatross, Phoebastria irrorata, but the first bird that greets one at the shore of this low, dry and shrubby island is the Española Mockingbird. These are certainly the tamest and boldest of the mockingbirds in this island group. They are not adverse to landing on your hat, or in particular on your backpacks, ever hopeful that they may find food or water there. Visually this mockingbird is paler greyish than the others, with a bold dark mask and dark lateral throat stripes; it also sports a long and decurved bill. Overall it is the largest, longest-legged mockingbird of the Galapagos and it has the palest eye color.

26·5–28 cm; male average 76·1 g, female average 64·8 g. Largest of genus, bill very long and decurved . Has obscure thin pale supercilium , black lores, blackish ear patch, faint black malar trace; crown greyish-brown, somewhat streaked; feathers of upperparts with blackish-brown centres and grey to brownish-grey margins, giving streaked or scalloped appearance, the dark centres obscure on hindneck, margins browner on rump; upperwing-coverts tipped off-white; flight-feathers blackish with white tips, remiges and greater coverts with tawny edges, tail dark brown; whitish below, indistinct brown markings on breast , streaky flanks ; iris yellow-brown; bill blackish; legs black. All blackish feathers become paler and browner in worn plumage. Differs from congeners in larger size, longer bill, less white in tail, less distinct facial patterning. Sexes similar, female smaller than male. Juvenile is more streaked below than adult.

Española and adjacent Gardner-near-Española, in SE Galapagos Is.

Arid littoral scrub, low thorny mesquite (Prosopis) scrub, scrubby woodland with scattered trees (Bursera) and arborescent cacti.

Sedentary.

Omnivorous; wide range of food items, from insects , and fruits and berries, to marine arthropods, small vertebrates, and scavenged items from seabird and hawk nests. Eats carrion from carcasses of seabirds, lizards, sea-lions (Otariinae); readily eats damaged seabird eggs, can open others with powerful bill. Habitually drinks blood, especially in dry season. Forages mainly on ground, but also in vegetation, depending on food resource (e.g. cactus fruits). Occurs in groups of up to 40 individuals outside breeding season. Removes and eats ticks (Acarina) from marine and land iguanas (Conolophus). Blood taken from wounds in living sea-lions, from sea-lion placentas , marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus), nestling boobies (Sula), from site of Galapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) kill of iguana, even from wounds on legs of humans. Blood-drinking habit peculiar to this one member of genus; possibly facilitated, at least in origin, by consequences of hawk predation.

Loud, strident song ; does not mimic other species.

Mar–Apr; timing highly synchronized. Co-operative breeder; often just one breeding pair per group, sometimes more (“plural” breeding groups); generally 7–10 adults per territorial group, group size correlates positively with territory size; territory size averages c. 1·5 ha. Nest a cup of twigs lined with finer material, placed in cactus, occasionally in other shrub. Clutch usually 2–4 eggs, sometimes 1; no information on incubation and fledging periods; young in nest fed by several adults (up to four recorded).

VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: present in Galapagos Islands EBA. Common within its tiny range of Española (58 km²) and one adjacent islet. Global population in the range 1000–2500 individuals; total numbers vary among years. Lives at higher densities than others of genus, up to 16 adults/ha. Primary conservation concern over this species stems from the fact that it is confined to two small islands on which its population trends are not known. Extreme weather events in the Galapagos could possibly have adverse effects on this species similar to those suffered by M. trifasciatus. No evidence that either Española or Gardner-near-Española has been populated by rats; accidental introduction of alien predators would have major adverse consequences for this species.