Mississippi State Bird
Northern Mockingbird

Official Mississippi State Bird Name: Mockingbird
American Ornithologists Union Common Name: Northern Mockingbird
Family: Mimidae, Mockingbirds, Thrashers
Scientific name: Mimus polyglottos
Length: 10" (25 cm)
Diet: Includes crayfish, sowbugs, snails, few small vertebrates; berries.
Voice: Listen to Northern Mockingbird Song (recorded by Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Song of varied phrases in regimented series: each phrase repeated 2-6 times, then an obvious pause followed by a different series krrDEE-krrDEE-krrDEE, jeurrrdi jeurrrdi jeurrrdi...; most phrases musical; many imitations of other species. Call a harsh, dry chak; harsher and longer than blackbirds; aggressive call a high, wheezy skeeech.
Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats including towns, farms, roadsides, thickets.
Displays: Male and female perform mating "dance" facing each other with heads and tails high, darting at each other and retreating; may also serve as territorial display, often occurring between males.
Number of broods: 2, occasionally 3 or 4
Nest: Usually in coniferous or deciduous tree (3-10' above ground), also occasionally in vines; of twigs, lined with grass, rootlets. Male usually builds foundation, female lines it. Built in 4-8 days.
Eggs: Averages 3-5 blue-green eggs, usually heavily marked with browns; 1.0" (24 mm).
Incubation period: 12-13 days
Fledge: 11-13 days after hatching
Longevity Record: 14 Years and 10 months (according to USGS Bird Banding Lab)

Mockingbirds are considered one of America's favorite backyard birds and is the State Bird for four other states besides Mississippi: Arkansas, Florida, Texas and Tennessee.

Coloring page of the Northern Mockingbird

Mississippi State Bird Books