Bird Guide

Galapagos Mockingbird vs Long-tailed Mockingbird

Galapagos Mockingbird (Mimus parvulus)

Galapagos Mockingbird

Mimus parvulus

Small54 gShrubland

Like all of the mockingbirds found in the Galápagos, this species is long-tailed and relatively long-legged, with a long, slim, decurved beak. The Galapagos mockingbird has a whitish stripe behind its eye, blackish-brown lores and ear-patch, and a broad white collar. The crown is dark brown, and the upperparts are greyish-brown with darker brown streaks. The flight-feathers are dark brown with two white wing-bars. It is whitish below, with a few brownish streaks on the breast and flanks. Its iris is yellowish, and the bill and legs are black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0
Long-tailed Mockingbird (Mimus longicaudatus)

Long-tailed Mockingbird

Mimus longicaudatus

Medium67 gShrubland

The long-tailed mockingbird is 27 to 29.5 cm (10.6 to 11.6 in) long and weighs 54 to 79 g (1.9 to 2.8 oz) with an average of 66.6 g (2.35 oz). Males are slightly larger than females. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a broad white supercilium and a black stripe through the eye that touches a black patch on the white cheek. Their crown and upperparts are brownish gray with darker streaks. The wings and long tail are mostly dusky brown, with patches of white that show conspicuously in flight. The throat, belly, and vent area are white and the breast and flanks buff to dull brown. Voice: The long-tailed mockingbird's song is "a fairly slow-paced series of variable rich whistled notes, churrs, rattles, squawks, and other noises, often with phrases repeated. Its calls are a throaty "garr!" and rapsing "gaawrr". It is not known to mimic other birds.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Long-tailed Mockingbird
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Loja: Tambo Negro 10 km E Macará, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: awsalas · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Galapagos Mockingbird and Long-tailed Mockingbird.