About Florida Mockingbirds

Despite the miles of coastline that might make you think Florida's state bird would be the seagull or pelican, the state bird is actually the Florida mockingbird. Its range covers the state, including the Florida Keys. Known for the range of bird songs it can replicate, Florida mockingbirds are ubiquitous throughout the state. They can be found in residential neighborhoods, city parks and open, undeveloped lands.

  1. Bird Basics

    • The adult Florida mockingbird is about 10 inches long and mostly gray in color. Its breast is usually lighter than its back and its dark wings are usually criss-crossed by white stripes. It eats insects, berries and seeds. If you want to attract mockingbirds to your yard, having a fruit tree or hawthorn or blackberry bushes may help bring them closer. They are not as likely as other birds to use feeders. Mockingbird eggs are a bluish-green with brown spots.

    Unusual Song

    • What sets the mockingbird apart from most Florida birds is its relentless singing. And it's not just the same couple of notes trilled over and over. As their name suggests, mockingbirds can and do mimic the calls of other birds or even other sounds in their environment, such as machinery or car alarms. A mockingbird will go through its various songs, at least in part, to attract a mate. A male mockingbird seeking a mate may sing loudly throughout the night. Once a pair is together their songs tend to get quieter. Mating season in Florida lasts from about February through August, though birds are most active in April and May.

    Nesting

    • When a pair of mockingbirds are ready to nest, the male starts construction in low branches of a tree or deep in a hedge. Once the basic nest of sticks or other materials is started, the male invites the female to inspect it. If she approves, she will add down and other soft materials to make it acceptable for nesting and hatching their young. Typically mockingbirds will lay three to five eggs each year.

    Territoriality

    • Mockingbirds are especially territorial. It's not unusual to see a mockingbird chase after a much larger bird or even a squirrel, cat or dog that has gotten too close to its nest. Sometimes other mockingbirds in the area are recruited to chase after creatures who have appeared to threaten the nest. Even before their nest is completed, while the male is building it, the female is usually perched nearby, watching for intruders.