ANIMAL: Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Type of Animal: Songbird Habitat: Forest/woodland edges, open areas, parks/parkland, suburban areas, gardens, mowed lawns w/ shrubs, chaparral, desert scrub, farmland/farms, towns, roadsides, brushy areas, thickets, lawns, suburban hedges, second growth, canyon streamsides, fruiting bushes, cultivated land, shrubland, agricultural areas, urban areas, fields, desert brush Location(s): Native to S Canada, continental US, SE Alaska, Mexico, Bahamas, & Greater Antilles. Introduced to Hawaii, Barbados, St. Helena, Socorro, Cayman Islands, & Tahiti. Vagrants rarely occur in Britain. Appearance: Medium-sized bird w/ gray to brown upper parts & white to whitish-gray belly/chest, long tail, white patches on wings Food/Diet: Insects, berries, fruit, spiders, snails, sowbugs, earthworms, seeds, sap, small crustaceans, lizards Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Protection under Migratory Bird Treaty Act Lifestyle: Found alone, in pairs, or in small colonies. Sometimes breed in loose colonies. Additional Info: Called: Male: Cock Female: Hen Young: Chick Group: Colony/Echo/Plagiary/Ridicule Weight: 1.6-2 oz Gestation: 2-3 weeks Life Span: 8 years in wild, 15-20 years in captivity Height: 8.3-10.2 in Body Length: 8.3-10.2 in Tail Length: 7-8 in Main predators of adults are raptors, snakes, corvids, alligators, felids, canids, raccoons, bears, & weasels. Smaller snakes & squirrels prey on chicks. Due to vocal repertoire, they were very popular cagebirds in late 19th/early 20th century. This caused dramatic decline in parts of range. State bird of 5 states-Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, & Mississippi. They raise 2-4 broods a year, typically in spring & summer, w/ each brood having 2-6 young. Older chicks sometimes help out younger chicks. Maturity reached at 9-12 months old. While territorial, neighboring birds will help each other when mobbing predators or defending nests. Fun Fact(s): These birds very bold, especially during nesting season. These birds will drive away other bird species & even mob predators & dive-bomb people. In famous 1960 story To Kill A Mockingbird, mockingbirds represent innocence. These birds are very intelligent. Males sing more than females. These birds can sing over 200 songs, including those of other bird species, amphibians, insects, & even car alarms & creaky gates. It’s believed that females more attracted to males w/ wider repertoire.
