Project Description
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Range/Geographical Distribution: Throughout most of the United States and Mexico as well as parts of Canada.
Habitat: Suburban areas, farms, roadsides, and thickets.
Similar Species: Northern shrike.
Description: A robin-sized bird that is grey above and white below with distinctive white patches on wings and tail. Juveniles are spotted below.
Size: Length: 8-10” Wingspan: 12-14” Weight: 45-58g
Food: Mostly insects in the summer and fruit in the fall and winter.
Breeding: Build stick nests in trees where they lay up to six pale blue and splotched eggs.
Predators: Larger birds of prey, snakes, dogs, and cats.
Conservation Status: The northern mockingbird is listed as least concern by IUCN but populations were low in the nineteenth century due to the pet trade.
Interesting Facts: Mockingbirds add new songs to their repertoire throughout their life and males may learn as many as 200 songs.
On the Coast: The northern mockingbird is usually seen perched in a tree singing a series of unique songs. Also found running and hopping along the ground, sometimes displaying the white patches on their wings.