The Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, is the mockingbird commonly found in North America.
Adults are grey on the head and upperparts with pale yellow eyes and a slim black bill with a slight downward curve; the underparts are light. They have a long dark tail with white edges and long dark legs. They have white wing bars and show white wing patches in flight.
Their breeding habitat is areas with a mix of open areas and dense shrubs from southern Canada to Mexico, but is most common in the southern United States. They build a twig nest in a dense shrub or tree. This bird aggressively defends its nest against other birds and animals. When a predator is persistent mockingbirds from neighboring teritories, summoned by a distinct call, may join the attack. Other birds may gather to watch as the mockingbirds harass the intruder.
They are generally permanent residents; northern birds may move south during harsh weather. However, this species has occurred in Europe as an extreme rarity.
These birds forage on the ground or in vegetation; they also fly down from a perch to capture food. They mainly eat insects and berries. While foraging they will frequently spread their wings in a peculiar two-step motion then fold them again.
This bird imitates the songs of other birds, animal sounds and even machine noises. It is often found in urban areas. They often sing through the night and may sing year-round except for the summer moulting season. While singing they will often bolt several feet into the air and land back on their perch without breaking a note.
Mockingbird in US culture
- The traditional American lullaby "Mockingbird" has been recorded in numerous musical styles. The lyrics refer to the fact that Northern Mockingbirds were once popular as pets and begin with:
- Hush little baby, don't say a word,
- Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
- And if that mockingbird don't sing,
- Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
