Photo: David Ratledge / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a member of the Mimidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 48.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Mimidae Mockingbirds, Thrashers
- Genus Mimus
- Species polyglottos
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48.5 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Mimidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike: both are pale gray above and paler gray-white below, with two white wingbars, big white wing patches, and white outer tail feathers that flash in flight.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles show dark streaking/spotting on the chest and back and a grayish (not yellow) eye, unlike the plain-breasted, yellow-eyed adult.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Mockingbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Northern Mockingbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) belongs to the Mimidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA s Canada to s Mexico.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48.5 g, with a wing length of about 11.2 cm and a tail of around 11.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Mockingbird?
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48.5 g.
Where does the Northern Mockingbird live?
The Northern Mockingbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA s Canada to s Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Northern Mockingbird belong to?
The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) belongs to the Mimidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern Mockingbird eat?
The Northern Mockingbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Northern Mockingbird migrate?
The Northern Mockingbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Northern Mockingbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Northern Mockingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Mockingbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Mockingbird's range?
The Northern Mockingbird has a mapped global range of about 10.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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