Asked on Jan 24, 2015

How can I tell the gender of a Norhern Mockingbird visiting my garden?

Once again,* many thanks to HT readers Many thanks to the HT community members including
@ http://www.hometalk.com/joyce242,
@ http://www.hometalk.com/laurie55,
@ http://www.hometalk.com/sandraharmon,http://www.hometalk.com/sandraharmon
@ http://www.hometalk.com/jodi30 @ http://www.hometalk.com/libbyyuewhoo.
They helped me determine the identity of a new bird that I first noticed in my garden on January fourth, 2015.
* The question and their feedback can be found here:
http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/pest-repeller/q-visit-from-a-mockingbird-6555547
* And I wrote a post about their help as well as the silence of my Northern mocking bird which can be found here: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/pest-repeller/sounds-of-silence-northern-mockingbirds-in-the-winter-6750661
Now, my question is, does anyone know how I might determine the gender of this Northern mockingbird? I know they say the females and males have different singing habits but since this (November-February) is their time of silence (at least in the northeastern portion of the United States), it is hard for me to determine the gender!
The photo included with my question show "my" Northern mockingbird enjoying suet in my garden.
  2 answers
  • R.V.R. Farris R.V.R. Farris on Jan 24, 2015
    Male and female mockingbirds look alike. However, the adult male can be slightly larger than the adult female. The male will attempt to develop his territory to attract the female.
    • TheLastLeafGardener TheLastLeafGardener on Jan 24, 2015
      @R.V.R. Farris Thanks for the info! So maybe my visitor is a male establishing a territory, after all, this northern mockingbird has been coming here alone, and is wishing upon a star!
  • Michelle Eliker Michelle Eliker on Jan 24, 2015
    The males also sing more than the females. This is how they establish their territory. The males are also more aggressive towards intruders.
    • TheLastLeafGardener TheLastLeafGardener on Jan 24, 2015
      @Michelle Eliker Thanks for taking the time to weigh in my question! I knew that males sing more than females BUT in the northeastern part of the USA, where I live, Northern Mockingbirds do not sing from November to February! (Do you suppose its a union rule proposed by AGMA, the American Guild of Music Artists?) In any event their sounds of silence during this period of time not only makes their gender hard to determine, this action of theirs had some folks believe that had migrated! But today, my visitor enjoyed "wishing upon a star" that I've yet to take off my Christmas tree. I envisioned him/her singing "Wishing Upon a Star" as well as "Swinging on a Star," and it gives me a good excuse in my procrastination to remove the star. Far be it from me to take down his/her perch. Meanwhile, I'd welcome any California warmth you could send this way!