The Northern
Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos - is the only mockingbird commonly
found in North America. This bird is mainly a
permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather. The
bird is the state bird of Arkansas. Mockingbirds have a strong preference
for certain trees such as maple, sweetgum and sycamore.
Description
The adults have
mainly gray upperparts, but note the blackish wings with striking white wing
bars and white patch (larger in males) at base of primaries. Tail is mainly
black, but with contrasting white outer feathers. Dark line emphasizes the
beady yellow eye. Underparts are pale gray-buff, palest on throat and
undertail. Bill is dark and slightly down curved and legs are dark. Juveniles
have paler upperparts, while underparts are warmer buff and heavily spotted on
throat and breast.
Call
The Northern
Mockingbird is best known for its mimicry in North America.
It imitates not only birds but also other animals and mechanical sounds such as
car alarms. They are also some of the loudest and most constantly vocal of
birds. In addition to its well-known song, the Northern Mockingbird uses a
variety of calls to communicate specific information. As with its song, these
calls are among some of the louder sounds produced by birds of its size.
Mockingbirds make a harsh, raspy noise when chasing other birds out of their
territory. A similar but distinct call is used when defending against predators
like a hawk or falcon. Other calls include a wheezing noise, a
"chuck" note, and a very piercing series of notes "high
low" repeated twice.
Food
They eat mainly
insects in summer, but switch to eating mostly fruit in fall and winter. These
birds forage on the ground or in vegetation; they also fly down from a perch to
capture food. They mainly eat insects, berries and seeds.
Breeding
The males
establish a nesting territory in early February. If a female enters his
territory, the male will pursue the female with initial aggressive calls and,
if she becomes uninterested, with softer calls. Once the pair is established,
their song becomes gentler. Northern Mockingbirds tend to be monogamous, and
the female may return to the same male from the previous season. Both the male
and female are involved in the nest building. The male does most of the work.
The nest is built
approximately three to 10 feet above the ground. The outer part of the nest is
composed of twigs, while the inner part is lined with grasses, dead leaves,
moss or artificial fibers. The eggs are a light blue or greenish color and
speckled with dots. Three to five eggs are laid by the female, and she
incubates them for nearly two weeks. Once the eggs are hatched, both the male
and female feed the chicks.
The birds
aggressively defend their nest and surrounding area against other birds and
animals.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
Birdwatching
Look for Northern
Mockingbirds sitting high on tall shrubs, poles, or utility lines. Around your
yard, you can also look for them running or hopping along your mowed lawn. You
may be able to first identify the presence of a Northern Mockingbird by
listening for its song which usually mimics numerous other birds at once.