Species · GBIF taxon 5231677
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottosAlso known as Mocker, American Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbirds are tireless vocalists famous for their ability to mimic dozens of other bird species, car alarms, and barking dogs in rapid succession. These slender, gray songbirds aggressively defend their territories year-round, flashing brilliant white wing patches in flight to startle insects or warn intruders. They thrive in human-altered landscapes, often singing late into moonlit nights from high, conspicuous perches.
VocalistTerritorialUrban-Adapted
Licensed referenceRhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Omnivorous (insects, spiders, berries, and fruits)
- family
- Mimidae
- threats
- Outdoor domestic cats, pesticide reduction of insect prey, and window collisions
- life Span
- Up to 8 to 10 years in the wild
LC
Aggressively defends nests by dive-bombing intruders; maintain distance during the spring breeding season.
Nesting adults will fiercely dive-bomb humans, dogs, and cats that approach their territory, occasionally making physical contact with claws or beaks.
Give active nests a wide berth of at least five meters, and carry an umbrella if you must walk near a defensive pair.- Listen closely: Try to identify the different bird calls woven into a single continuous song.
- Watch the wing-flash: Observe them on lawns as they open and shut their wings to flush out hidden insects.
- Provide native shrubs: Plant native fruiting bushes to provide essential winter food for resident birds.