Northern Mockingbirds are a fascinating species, well-known for their incredible vocal mimicry. While they are a common and widespread bird across much of the southern and eastern United States, their presence in Oregon is more localized, primarily in the southern part of the state and increasingly expanding northward, often aided by human-altered landscapes.

General Characteristics (Both Sexes):
Appearance: Mockingbirds are medium-sized, slender songbirds with long tails and short, rounded wings. Their plumage is predominantly pale gray on the upperparts and whitish on the underparts. They have a distinctive blackish eye-stripe.
White Wing Patches: A key identification feature, especially in flight, are their large white patches on the wings. These patches are mostly concealed when the bird is perched but flash conspicuously when they fly or perform their characteristic "wing-flash" display (partially opening and closing their wings). They also have white outer tail feathers, visible in flight.
Bill: Their bill is relatively long, thin, and black, with a slight downward curve.
Legs: They have long, slender, grayish-green legs.
Eyes: Juveniles have blue-gray eyes that gradually turn yellow as they mature.
Habitat: In Oregon, they are typically found in areas with open ground and shrubby vegetation, such as parkland, cultivated land, suburban areas, and second-growth habitats at low elevations. They often perch conspicuously on utility lines, fences, and the tops of shrubs and trees.
Diet: They are omnivores, consuming a variety of insects (especially in summer) and fruits/berries (particularly in fall and winter).

Distinguishing Male and Female Northern Mockingbirds:
Unlike some bird species with striking sexual dimorphism, male and female Northern Mockingbirds are very similar in appearance, making visual identification challenging without close observation of behavior.

Here are the subtle differences and behavioral cues:
1. Size:
Males: Tend to be slightly larger than females, both in length and weight. This difference is usually too subtle to notice in the field unless you have both sexes side-by-side.
Females: Are marginally smaller than males.

2. Wing Patch Size (less reliable for casual observation): Some studies have shown that males may have slightly larger white wing patches than females. This difference is minimal and difficult to discern without precise measurements or very specific viewing conditions.

3. Vocalization (most reliable behavioral cue):
Males: Are renowned for their extensive and varied song repertoire, mimicking numerous other birds, animals, and even artificial sounds. Males are the primary singers, especially during the breeding season to attract mates and defend territories. They often sing continuously, sometimes even at night (unmated males are more likely to sing at night).
Females: Do sing, but generally more quietly and less frequently than males. They rarely sing in the summer, often only when the male is away from the territory. They may sing more in the fall, possibly to establish winter territories.

4. Breeding Season Behaviors:
Males: Establish territories and perform courtship displays to attract females. These displays can include:
Flight Display: The male sings continuously while flying a few meters into the air and then "parachuting" slowly back down, conspicuously showing off his white wing patches.
Chasing: Males may chase females through the territory while calling.
Nest Site Showing: They might run along branches, showing potential nest sites.
They are more active in gathering the twig foundation for the nest.
Females: Are the sole incubators of the eggs. While both parents feed the nestlings, the female often begins building a new nest for a second brood while the male continues to care for the fledglings from the previous brood.