VERTEBRATE PARASITE:

Hood Mocking Bird

UNIVERSITYOFCALCUTTA
SEMESTER: 5
ZOOA PRACTICAL EXAMINATION UNDER CBCS (2023)
REGISTRATION NO.: 563-1112-0257-20
ROLL NO.: 213563-21-0109
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks and gratitude to our Professors Smt. Ishita
Ray, Dr. Indraneel Saha and Sri Suvajit Dey as well as our respected principal sir,
Dr. Subhankar Tripathi who gave me the golden opportunity to do this project work
on “VERTEBRAT PARASITOLOGY” where I came to know about the astonishing
parasitic behaviour of HOOD MOCKINGBIRDS.

I would also like to thank all the teachers of the Department of Zoology of our
college for their help and suggestions included in this project.
Lastly, I am also grateful to my parents and friends, whose cooperation and
encouragement helped me a lot in finishing this project within the limited time.
 INDEX
Sl. Pages
Content
No.

1 Introduction 4

2 Distribution and Habitat 5

3 Morphological characters 6

Feeding behaviour
4 • Diet 6-7
• Parasitic feeding behaviour

5 Conclusion 8
INTRODUCTION
Nestled within the remote and captivating landscapes of the Galápagos archipelago
resides a bird species that embodies resilience, adaptability, and endemism—the
Hood Mockingbird (Mimus macdonaldi). Revered for its evolutionary journey and
unique behavioural adaptations, the Hood Mockingbird stands as a testament to the
intricacies of island ecosystems and the enduring survival strategies of avian life in
these isolated habitats.
The Galápagos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its diverse flora
and fauna, shaped by isolation and the forces of natural selection. Among the
remarkable fauna that call this extraordinary archipelago home, the Hood
Mockingbird stands as a captivating emblem, showcasing both the marvels and
challenges of island-endemic species.
This project delves into various points as ecological significance, behavioural
characteristics, evolutionary adaptations, and conservation efforts but specifically
centred around the parasitic feeding behaviour of Hood Mockingbird.
Hood mockingbirds are opportunistic vampires and have been known to drink the
blood of wounded sea birds, injured sea lions, sea lion placenta, and scratched-up
humans.

Fig: Hood Mockingbird (Mimus macdonaldi)

SYSTEMATIC POSITION: (According to J.Z.Young, 1981)
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Subphylum – Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathostomata
Class – Aves
Order – Passeriformes
Family – Mimidae
Genus – Mimus
Sub species – macdonaldi

Distribution and Habitat:

• The Hood Mockingbird (Mimus macdonaldi) is an iconic and endemic bird
species found exclusively in the Galápagos Islands, a remote archipelago
situated in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.
Within the Galápagos, this species is specifically localized to the Hood Island
(also known as Española Island), an area where it thrives in diverse habitats
across theisland's varied Landscape.

Fig: Breeding distributions and sampling of mockingbirds.

• These mockingbirds predominantly inhabit arid and semi-arid zones, favoring

dry lowlands, coastal areas, and arid scrub habitats found on Hood Island. The
availability of various vegetation types, including thorny shrubs, cacti, and
scattered trees, provides the Hood Mockingbird with suitable nesting sites and
foraging grounds. Their adaptability to this arid environment is remarkable,
showcasing their ability to thrive in the harsh conditions typical of the
Galápagos.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS:
 ➢ Size and Appearance: Medium-sized bird with a length ranging around 10–11
inches (25–28 cm) with conspicuous white plumage on the underside and
wings and a distinct black hood or cap on its head, giving it its name.
➢ Coloration and Patterns: Prominent white coloration on the belly, wings, and
tail feathers with dark black plumage covering the head, resembling a hood or
cap, greyish-brown back and upper body feathers.
➢ Beak and Eyes: Strong, slightly curved beak adapted for feeding on various
seeds and insects. Dark eyes with a sharp, alert appearance.
➢ Wings and Tail: Well-defined wing structure with contrasting black and white
feathers. Moderately long tail feathers with a mix of black, white, and greyish-
brown colors.
➢ Legs and Feet: Legs are sturdy and adapted for perching on various surfaces.
➢ Feet equipped with sharp claws suitable for gripping branches and perches.
➢ Body Shape: Compact and moderately slender body shape typical of
passerine birds. Agile and active in movements, with quick flight patterns.

FEEDING BEHAVIOUR:
• Diet: The Hood mockingbird has a more powerful bill than other members of
the genus. They use their bill to predate the eggs of swallow-tailed gulls.
Larger eggs of boobies and albatrosses are only attacked if already damaged
The species has an omnivorous diet, but is mainly a predator or
scavenger. Their diet includes:
➢ Fruits and berries.
➢ The eggs of seabirds nesting on the island.
➢ Dead animals and kills made by other predators, such as the Galápagos hawk.
Insects, marine arthropods, small vertebrates

Fig: Hood mockingbird feeding on insects and carrions from lizards and sealions.
➢ Carrion from the carcasses of seabirds, lizards, and marine
mammals.
➢ Engorged ticks and skin from live iguanas.
Parasitic feeding behaviour on sea birds,sea lions, lizards:
➢ Hood mockingbirds are opportunistic vampires and have been known to drink
the blood of wounded sea birds, injured sea lions, sea lion placenta.
➢ It also feeds on decaying flesh and carcasses of seabirds, lizards and marine
mammals.
➢ Its powerful bill enables it to consume damaged seabird eggs.
➢ The Hood Mockingbird has developed some peculiar feeding behaviour,
especially in dry season: it drinks blood from wounds on living sea lions, from
sea lion placentas, on marine iguanas, and nestling birds by frequenting the
hunting areas of the Galapagos Hawk.
➢ It sometimes removes the ticks and some pieces of dead skin from iguanas,
sometimes involving the creation of small wounds from which it drinks the
blood.
➢ This habit probably arose from a mutually beneficial arrangement between the
bird and the various animals on the island.

Fig: Parasitic behaviour on sea birds. Fig: Parasitic behaviour on sea lizards.

➢ When it isn’t out for blood, the hood mockingbird will often land on an
animal’s back and pluck off ticks and other parasites.
➢ The blood-filled insects, and the wounds they left on the animal, were a
gateway into vampirism.
CONCLUSION:

The Hood Mockingbird, with its distinctive black hood and striking white plumage,
stands as an iconic avian species native to the arid and semi-arid regions of its
habitat. Its remarkable adaptations for survival in harsh environments, agile flight
patterns, and foraging strategies provide insights into the resilience and adaptability
of avian species. The Hood Mockingbird's role in maintaining ecological balance, its
nesting behaviors, and its interactions within the unique ecosystems it inhabits
showcase the importance of preserving biodiversity and understanding the intricate
relationships between species and their environments. By studying and appreciating
the Hood Mockingbird's morphological characteristics, behavior, and habitat
preferences, we gain valuable insights into the rich tapestry of nature and the
fascinating adaptations of birds in challenging habitats.
REFERENCE:
• “BirdLife International (2020) "Mimus macdonaldi", IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species,” 2020
• “The origin and diversification of Galapagos mockingbirds,” Brian S
Arbogast et al., 2006.
• Hood mockingbird ‘vampiring’ Masked booby chick, 2014
• “Interisland Variation in Blood Drinking by Galápagos
Mockingbirds,” Robert L. Curry,1987
• “Meet the World's Most Amiable Vampire: The Hood Mockingbird,” Esther
Inglis-Arkell,2015.
• “The origin and diversification of Galapagos Mockingbirds,” Brian Arbogast,
2006.