*Oology is a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behaviour. The word is derived from the Greek oion, meaning egg.

23. Northern Mockingbird

This part of the Stanislaus Audubon Website is focused on 44 common Central Valley nesting species with background about their nesting habits. Please check the Great Valley Museum Central Valley Egg Collection starting page for links to all the featured species.

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD NESTING INFORMATION (From birdsoftheworld.org)

Nests - Mockingbirds build and use several nests during a breeding season. Acrobatic courtship chases of females by males may pass near various potential nest sites. The male may construct as many as three nests for the first brood before eggs are laid in any. The nest is an open cup of dead twigs lined with grasses, rootlets, and/or dead leaves. Nests are built in shrubs and trees.
Eggs - Oval to short oval, ground color, bluish gray or greenish white, through shades of greenish blue and bluish green, to darker shades of blue and green. Most eggs heavily marked with spots, blotches and short scrawls of various shades of brown (hazel, russet, and cinnamon) and deep red.
Incubation - Only the female incubates, generally for 12 to 13 days.
Fledging - Young are altricial and both parents feed nestlings, bringing food items in bill throughout the day. Most nestlings depart the nest on the 12th day after hatching.

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