{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Use American English|date=July 2021}} {{Speciesbox | name = Tenca, Chilean mockingbird | image = ChileanMockingbird.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |year=2018 |title=''Mimus thenca'' |article-number=e.T22711050A132093090 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22711050A132093090.en}}</ref> | genus = Mimus | species = thenca | authority = (Molina, 1782) | synonyms = | range_map = Mimus thenca map.svg }} The '''Chilean mockingbird''' ('''''Mimus thenca'''''), locally known as '''''tenca''''',<ref name=avesdechile>{{cite web |url=http://www.avesdechile.cl/073.htm|title=Tenca (Mimus thenca) |author=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=July 21, 2021 }}</ref> is a species of bird in the family Mimidae. It primarily inhabits Chile's northern half, though there are sightings in Argentina.<ref name=IOC11.2>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.2) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=July 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2021 }}</ref>
==Taxonomy and systematics==
The Chilean mockingbird is monotypic.<ref name=IOC11.2/>
==Description== [[File:Mimus thenca-standing.jpg|thumb|left|At Parque Juan Pablo II, Santiago, Chile]]
The Chilean mockingbird is {{cvt|28|to|29|cm|1}} long and weighs {{convert|66|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The male is somewhat larger than the female. Adults have a wide whitish supercilium. Their crown, neck, and back are brownish gray with darker streaks and their rump browner. The wings and tail are blackish. The wings show two narrow bars when folded. The outermost tail feathers have white edges and most of the others have white tips. The throat is whitish, the chest brownish gray, the belly dirty white, and the flanks buffy with blackish streaks. The juvenile is similar but more buffy below with more streaks.<ref name=CHMO-BOW>{{cite taxon |BOW |citation=Cody, M. L. (2020). Chilean Mockingbird (Mimus thenca), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.chimoc1.01 |access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat==
The Chilean mockingbird is found in Chile from Copiapó Province in the Atacama Region south to Los Lagos, Puerto Montt, and Chiloé Island. A small population also exists in Neuquén Province, Argentina.<ref name=CHMO-BOW/><ref name=avesdechile/>
The Chilean mockingbird inhabits a wide variety of biomes, most of which are characterized by scrub, shrubs, or widely spaced trees. Examples include succulent coastal scrub, inland savanna bushland, and evergreen Chilean matorral. It also occurs at the edges of low relict woodland patches such as those in Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park and in disturbed habitats, though only rarely in urban areas. It shuns ''Nothofagus'' and ''Cryptocarya'' woodlands in the south and plantations of introduced pines in central Chile. In elevation it ranges from sea level to {{convert|2200|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=CHMO-BOW/>
==Behavior== ===Feeding===
The Chilean mockingbird forages mainly on the ground, turning over leaf litter and digging under fallen branches and around plant stems. It also hunts in vegetation up to {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} above ground. It is omnivorous; it has been documented feeding on insects, wild and cultivated fruits, nectar, and a small lizard.<ref name=CHMO-BOW/>
===Breeding===
The Chilean mockingbird nests mainly in October and November. They are territorial, probably throughout the year. Their nest is a cup made of twigs lined with moss or wool, placed low in vegetion such as cacti and thorny bushes. The clutch size is two to four. The nest is often parasitized by shiny cowbirds (''Molothrus bonariensis'').<ref name=CHMO-BOW/>
===Vocalization===
{{birdsong|url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Mimus-thenca |species=Chilean mockingbird }} The Chilean mockingbird sings year round, "a series of sweet, variable notes and phrases". It is an "excellent mimic of other bird species".<ref name=CHMO-BOW/>
==Status==
The IUCN has assessed the Chilean mockingbird as being of Least Concern.<ref name=IUCN/> Though it has a somewhat restricted range, it is common within it and there are no known threats to its population.<ref name=CHMO-BOW/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{inaturalist taxon|14879}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2668570}}
Category:Mimus Category:Birds of Chile Category:Birds described in 1782 Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Fauna of the Chilean Matorral Category:Fauna of the Valdivian temperate forests