# Northern Mockingbird

*Mimus polyglottos*

A single male may learn and perform the songs of over 200 other bird species, as well as mechanical sounds like sirens.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Mimidae › Mimus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** urban
- **Habitat:** Open areas with sparse vegetation, suburban gardens, parks, and forest edges.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous: primarily insects and earthworms in spring/summer, shifting to berries and fruit in autumn/winter.
- **Range:** United States, Mexico, Southern Canada, Caribbean Islands
- **Size:** 21 to 26 cm in length; wingspan of 31 to 35 cm
- **Lifespan:** 8 to 10 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Predation by domestic cats, pesticide exposure reducing insect prey, and window collisions.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless but highly defensive of nests. If the bird dive-bombs, you are too close; move away 15 feet. No danger to humans beyond minor intimidation.

## About

The northern mockingbird ( Mimus polyglottos ) is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. This bird is mainly a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather. This species has rarely been observed in Europe. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturæ in 1758 as Turdus polyglottos. The northern mockingbird is known for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, 'many-tongued mimic.' The northern...

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/818d7fb6-be78-4d73-8867-32785473ab11
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14886
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimus polyglottos
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/209802918/medium.jpg (Morgan Caygill, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.