As a post-script to the piece about the Northern Mockingbirds nesting in a tree on our deck (see "RAVE - Nature's brilliant innit?"), I was still wondering which of the pair of birds was the male, and which the female.
It's true that one of them sits on the nest at night, while the other presumably cruises the neighborhood for shiny cars on which to make not inconsiderable deposits. But assuming the depositor was the male could be jumping to homophobic conclusions.
To my rescue came Bill, the same person who identified the breed for me. His sexual observations are many and varied, and not always about flying creatures (and rarely accurate, except I hope, in this case).
Anyhow, he forwarded to me this ornithological insight:
Many people don't know how to tell the difference between male and female birds. Most believe it has to be determined surgically. Until now.
Below are two birds. Study them closely... see if you can spot which of the two is the female. It can be done. Even by someone with limited bird watching skills.
Click on the picture if you're still not sure.
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