@ 
A 
The figures represent the long-term average of the number of 
mockers seen per party hour on the Audubon Christmas counts 
MOCKINGBIRD 
WINTER DISTRIBUTION RECORDS 
DEC.|— FEB.| 
SAIC) bel le encila 
| 
JO_ DAVIESS | STEPHENSON | WINNEBAGO | 
1950 — | i| wonener | cane 
1900 -1950 fea aes eae 1 
BEFORE 1900 | ease 
J Ye ge ety 2H : 
HACOUBIN maar — 
SG oun) eae p' 
beer 
peas 
Fig. 7.— Winter records for the mockingbird in Ilinois. 
at localities with a long history of counts. 
12 
1.60 
1.40 
1.20 
LO 
.80 
LONG-TERM AVERAGE 
BIRDS PER PARTY HOUR 
40 
.20 
a e 
SEN | a aN 
1940 1945 1950 
0 
County, which had a notably high population in Rid 
way’s (1889) time, has a consistently high winter cow 
to this day, and in central Hlinois the counts in the D 
catur area are consistently higher than the Springfield ar 
Urbana counts (Fig. 7). The Christmas count data oi 
us a relative impression of the populations. The on 
measurements of the winter population in more absolu 
terms are those of Shaw and Stine (1955), Shaw (1961 
and Axelson, et al. (1965), and the statewide str 
censuses. | 
The habitats used by mockingbirds seem much ¢] 
same in summer and winter with high densities in ed) 
shrub habitat both seasons. There is little utilization 
forest edge in winter, and virtually none in summer, b 
pastures and fallow fields are important to the bird 
both seasons. The importance of residential habitat 
the mockingbird in winter is unknown. Many write 
have commented on the relationship of mockingbirds 
multiflora rose in winter (Fig. 9), and the presence 
these rose hedges may have a definite bearing on the 1 
cent extension of the winter range in the North (Eme 
& Woodruff 1968). Rose hips are thought to be an 1 
portant winter food. 
The only observation relating to homing phenomem 
in the mocker is that of Dyke (1956) who recorded 
mockingbird (recognizable because of its crippled foo 
at Princeton for at least four consecutive winters. Tl 
also constitutes the only longevity record for the speci 
in I]linois. | 
Mockingbirds have been attracted to feeders inj 
parts of the state. They are especially attracted to su 
and peanut butter, but also to asparagus berries, appli 
and the fruits of bittersweet (Schantz 1922, Campbi 
1953, and Smith 1923). In southern Illinois Ridgw 
(1918) noted that mockers were fond of raisins. 
SOUTH 
CENTRAL 
\ eas 
1955 1960 1965 1970 
Fig. 8. — Annual variation in the number of mockingbirds seen per party hour on the Audubon Christmas counts in southe 
and central Illinois. The straight horizontal line represents the long-term average for the region. 
