Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos at Gran Canaria, April 2005

Photos by Miguel Avelino

Introduction 

A male Northern Mockingbird, the 1st for the Canary Islands and Spain was been present during the last week of March and up to 5.4 at least at Arguineguin, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands where it was found by a pary of Scandinavian birders (Lars Sandberg). After having news of the observation, local birders visited the area and relocated the bird that was holding a territory (Miguel Avelino Suárez; Yeray Seminario). The bird was unringed and its plumage was in pristine condition. It behaved aggresively and territorial. 

According to local people who feeded the bird (!) the bird reached the place last November 2004 [matching a natural vagrancy pattern, ed. comment] so it 
stayed in that area from November 2004 to April 2005 at least.

The record was submitted to the Spanish Rarities Committee.

Description

Part of the description submitted by Miguel Avelino to Spanish Rarities Committee (in Spanish):

DESCRIPCION DEL SINSONTE COMUN

El ave era algo mansa hacia las personas,muy agresiva con otras aves y estremadamente territorial,la gente de la zona me comentaron que el ave esta 
desde noviembre del año pasado en este sitio y que vino zona,desde mi punto 
de vista puede que halla llegado de forma artificial a las isla (en barco por ejemplo) o que sea un escape,pero no tiene anillas y el plumaje esta perfeto (sin cortes).

Cosa curiosa,es que esta ave es una gran imitadora de cantos y sonidos,desde el canto de un mirlo hasta el pitido de un silbato imito esta ave delante de mi.

En tamaño es mas o menos de un mirlo.

PARTE NO PLUMADA-

PICO- Es delgado,recto y de coloracion negra.
OJOS-Amarillo palido
Patas.son largas y de coloracion negra.

PARTE PLUMADA
Cara-de coloracion grisasea,pero tiene al los lados de los ojos algo que se me parece un antifas de coloracion mucho mas oscura (gris oscuro).Barbilla-blanca-grisasea. Pileo y cabeza-de coloracion grisasea. Cuello-grisaseo, pecho y vientre-gris blancusco,aunque tiene tambien algo de ocre.Alas-primarias de color negro,tenia dos bandas alares de coloracion blanca.Dorso-de coloracion grisácea.

Photographs

All photos by © Miguel Avelino

Miguel Avelino would thank an e-mail with any sighting of birds at Gran Canaria since he is (one of the few) resident birders in the island. More information or further advice and sightings please be sent to J.A.Lorenzo from SEO/Canarias

Buy Aurelio Martin & Juan Antonio Lorenzo recent book on the Birds of the Canary Islands from www.weboryx.com (32,75 EUROS) Aves del Archipiélago Canario Francisco Lemus Editor, 800 pages, 300 colour photographs, 2002 A basic and much needed reference for the Canary Islands avifauna. With detailed accounts of species status and phenology, including all rarities. All sellings profits of this book are donated to SEO/Canarias to help Canary Islands birds. supports the www.rarebirdspain.net website helping us with the dominium and web mainteinance. Mail to oryx@weboryx.com

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos at Gran Canaria, April 2005

Summary:
Introduction
Description
Photographs