Backyard & Woodland Songbirds
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
A gray songbird famous for copying the songs of other birds, and even car alarms. It often sings all night in spring and fiercely defends its territory.
How to identify it
- Gray above, paler gray-white below
- Long tail with white outer feathers
- Large white wing patches flash in flight
- Endless song of repeated imitated phrases
SizeAbout the size of an American Robin
Song Sparrow6 in
Northern Mockingbird9 in
American Robin10 in
American Crow19 in
6 inAverage length, bill to tail
Details
- Size
- 8–10 in long; wingspan 12–14 in
- Weight
- 1.6–2 oz
- Habitat
- Towns, suburbs, parks, farmland and thickets
- When to see it
- Year-round across the southern US
- Diet
- Insects, berries and fruit
Range in the United States
Life history
Food
Eats insects in summer and fruit and berries in fall and winter.
Nesting
A cup of twigs and grass in a dense shrub or small tree.
- Clutch
- 2–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–13 days
- Young
- Fledge at about 12 days
- Broods
- 2–3 per year
Behavior
Defends its territory aggressively, even diving at people and pets. Flashes its wings while feeding.
Conservation
Common, though declining slightly.
Cool facts
- A male may learn up to 200 songs in his lifetime.
- It's the state bird of five states, including Texas and Florida.
- Unmated males are the ones most likely to sing at night.
Songs & calls
▶Bird sounds video coming soon
Watch the Northern Mockingbird
▶Video coming soon
