What Are Mockingbirds?

You might not know a mockingbird is in your garden if you only hear its voice. This is because mockingbirds mimic the calls of other birds. Mockingbirds often produce long, changeable songs which sound like multiple bird species. They are among the most vocal birds that sing almost nonstop even into the evening when others have gone quiet.

  1. Description

    • The mockingbird is a medium-sized, slender songbird. It grows to between 8 to10 inches tall with a wingspan of almost 14 inches and weighs up to 2 oz. It looks similar in shape to a thrush but has a longer tail and beak. The bird is gray to brown with black and white barred wings. The underside of the bird's wings is bright white and is displayed to ward off threats and other birds.

    Habitat and Range

    • The mockingbird lives throughout the U.S., into southern Canada and down into Mexico and parts of Central America. It is an adaptable species and can be found almost anywhere from forests to grasslands and even in urban areas, but it does favor lowland habitats. During the colder months the birds are more common in the warmer southern states. It is a territorial bird and will often chase off intruders near its nest or perch.

    Diet and Predators

    • Mockingbirds are seasonal eaters, consuming mostly small insects during the summer months such as beetles, earthworms, ants and bees. When the weather gets colder and insects are more scarce, the birds switch to a range of ripe fruits. The birds have also been known to drink the sugary sap produced by some trees. As small birds with little in the way of defense, they are at risk from domestic cats as well as predatory snakes, bobcats and coyotes.

    Life Cycle

    • Mockingbirds tend to form life-long pairings and will work together to build a nest of twigs in a shrub or small tree generally around 3 to 10 feet off the ground. The female lays between two to six eggs which are incubated for up to 13 days before they hatch. Both birds care for the young, but females may go off to lay more eggs in another nest while the male cares for the chicks.