Mockingbird is any of a group of birds known for the ability to imitate the sounds of other birds. There are dozens of species (kinds) of mockingbirds. The northern mockingbird, also called common mockingbird or simply mockingbird, is especially famous for its ability to imitate. One naturalist reported a northern mockingbird that imitated the songs of 32 different birds in 10 minutes. The bird’s own song is one of the most versatile birdsongs. The bird lives throughout the United States and Mexico and in parts of Canada.
The northern mockingbird has an ashy-white breast and an ash-gray coat. Its wings and tail are darker gray with white markings. Males and females have almost the same coloring, but the female has a little less white. The mockingbird grows from 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 centimeters) long. It has a long slender body and tail.
Loading the player...Northern mockingbird
Mockingbirds build their nests in thickets, low trees, and bushes. They lay from four to six greenish-blue or bluish-white eggs spotted with brown. Mockingbirds help people by eating insects and weed seeds. They often pick insects off the radiators of parked cars. They also eat wild fruits and can damage fruit crops. The birds can be aggressive, especially when nesting.
