Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

A master vocalist with a repertoire of over 200 songs, this feathered mimic can be heard serenading neighborhoods across North America day and night.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Northern Mockingbird is a medium-sized songbird with a slender body and long legs. Its plumage is predominantly gray on the upper parts and whitish-gray on the underparts, with distinctive white patches on the wings and tail.

Both males and females share similar coloration. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a slightly speckled breast. The bird's wings display conspicuous white wing bars and patches that are especially visible during flight.

Size

Length

21cm to 26cm

Wingspan

31cm to 35cm

Weight

45g to 58g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey White

Secondary Colour

Black Brown

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Northern Mockingbird can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Northern Mockingbird can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Northern Mockingbird can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Northern Mockingbird can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Northern Mockingbird is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Northern Mockingbirds are widely distributed across North America, from southern Canada through the United States and into Mexico. They thrive in a variety of open habitats, including suburban areas, city parks, farmlands, and forest edges.

These birds are year-round residents throughout most of their range in the United States. Some individuals may move south during harsh winters in the northernmost parts of their distribution, but this migration is not consistent or widespread.

There have been a handful of sightings in the UK, one in 1982 (Saltash, Cornwall), 1988 (Horsey Island, Essex), and 2021 (Exmouth, Devon), making it an extremely rare sighting.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,100 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Northern Mockingbird. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons