Very Odd
Saw this very odd mockingbird on top of a sign at the lake. It had no tail. Seems to be an adult, juveniles have a heavily spotted breast and a normal tail length. Fledglings have the spots and the gape which this lacks. Doesn't seem to be molting, all feathers look sleek. My guess is something called fright molt. Where a bird will escape a predator by abruptly molting their entire tail in order to get away. A survivor. Have seen it before in an adult female cardinal. The tail will grow back.
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Mimus polyglottosNorthern MockingbirdmockingbirdTexas State Birdwhite rock lakedallas texaswinfrey pointperched on a signperchedno tailoddunusualsurvivorfright molt
