Northern Mockingbird

About the Northern Mockingbird

The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a mockingbird commonly found in North America, of the family Mimidae. The species is also found in some parts of the Caribbean, as well as on the Hawaiian Islands. It is typically a permanent resident across much of its range, but northern mockingbirds may move farther south during inclement weather or prior to the onset of winter. The northern mockingbird has gray to brown upper feathers and a paler belly. Its tail and wings have white patches which are visible in flight. The species is known for its ability to mimic bird calls and other types of sound, including artificial and electronic noises. Studies have shown its ability to identify individual humans and treat them differently based on learned threat assessments.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Mimus polyglottos

Family

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order

Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the mockingbirds and thrashers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii
• Bendire's Thrasher Toxostoma bendirei
• Black Catbird Melanoptila glabrirostris
• Blue Mockingbird Melanotis caerulescens
• Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus
• Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
• California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum
• Cozumel Thrasher Toxostoma guttatum
• Crissal Thrasher Toxostoma crissale
• Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre
• Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
• Gray Thrasher Toxostoma cinereum