Birdsong field guide
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium-sized songbird renowned for its extraordinary vocal mimicry and bold, territorial behavior. It is easily identified by its slender build, long tail, and conspicuous white wing patches visible during flight.
What it sounds like
A long, complex series of varied musical phrases, with each specific phrase typically repeated 3 to 5 times before changing to a new sound.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- An individual male can learn and replicate up to 200 different songs, including those of other birds, insects, and even mechanical noises.
- They perform a behavior called 'wing-flashing,' where they flick their wings open to reveal white patches, likely to startle and flush out insect prey.
- Unlike many other songbirds, both males and females are known to sing, though males are generally more prolific performers.
- They are famously nocturnal singers, often continuing their complex vocalizations late into the night, especially during a full moon.
- Highly aggressive defenders of their territory, they will frequently dive-bomb much larger animals, including hawks, cats, and humans.
Habitat
Open areas with thickets or shrubs, including suburban backyards, city parks, forest edges, and cultivated land.
Range
Found year-round throughout the continental United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with expanding ranges into southern Canada.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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