Northern Mockingbird

• Family: Mimidae, Mockingbirds, Thrashers
• Scientific name: Mimus polyglottos
• Length: 10" (25 cm)
• Diet: Insects, fruit; includes crayfish, sowbugs, snails, few small vertebrates; berries.
• Voice: 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) 

Click on picture for larger Northern Mockingbird Coloring Page.

Enjoy your local Northern Mockingbirds. Watch, listen and learn about their unique behaviors with your family and friends!

Go to 50 State Birds