Skin specimen of Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).

Ornithology Collection #667 - Department of Biological Sciences

Mockingbird in life position.

(Creative Commons)

STATE BIRD
MOCKINGBIRD

(Mimus polyglottos) 

Designated as State Bird in 1944.

Mockingbirds can mimic the sounds of almost anything! Males make themselves attractive to females by the breadth of their song repertoire, which can number up to 200. Mockingbirds can be found in all corners of Mississippi, and are common in many different habitats including open farmland, thickets, and even urban areas. 

Skin specimen of Wood Duck.

Ornithology Collection #0071 - Department of Biological Sciences.

Male Wood Duck, State Waterfowl of Mississippi.

STATE WATERFOWL
WOOD DUCK

(Aix sponsa) 

Designated as State Waterfowl in 1974.

Wood duck nests can be found in trees at heights up to fifty feet above ground.  Their young must jump from these high nests to reach the ground before they fledge (learn to fly).  Wood ducks are one of the few duck species that have claws on their webbed feet, to help them perch in tree branches.  They are common residents in Mississippi ponds, marshes, creeks and rivers. 

Wood Duck Print by Ken Clifford.

Department of Art Collection

Print of Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) by artist Ken Clifford (1942-1987). This work is part of the Department of Art collections.