Blue Mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens), Lower San Pedro River, Pinal County

This Blue Mockingbird was found by Benton and Wade Leitner and photographed by Wade Leitner on 11 July 2015

Discovered in a mist net on the lower San Pedro River, but was not reported at that time due to access restrictions. It was banded and released. It is the first known Blue Mockingbird banded in the U.S.

Arizona has three accepted records of Blue Mockingbird, all wintering birds in southeastern Arizona with another pending from the spring. This individual shows no obvious signs of captivity.

The overall blue coloration, black mask, long bill, and reddish-brown eye make this species distinctive.

11 July 2015, photo by Wade Leitner

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