Tennessee State Bird
Northern Mockingbird

Official Tennessee 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)

According to the Nashville Banner of April 16, 1933, the mockingbird was selected on April 11, 1933 as the Tennessee State Bird in an election conducted by the Tennessee Ornithological Society. The choice was confirmed by Senate Joint Resolution 51 adopted by the General Assembly in 1933.

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

Coloring page of the Northern Mockingbird

Tennessee State Bird Books