Northern Mockingbird

Mockingbirds Are Occasional Residents

Northern Mockingbird

 The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a rare New Brunswick resident and sometimes a migrant.  According to 'Birds of New Brunswick:  An Annotated List' there were only a few reports of this species prior to  the 1950s.  The first recorded nesting was in 1967 in Grand Manan.  It now breeds in a few places in the province mostly along the eastern and southern coasts.  The bird shown in the photos above and below was seen on January 19 in St. George.

Northern Mockingbird

The Mockingbird is very common in the US.  It is a permanent resident from southern Maine through to southern California and throughout Mexico and the West Indies.  It summers northward from there to the Great Lakes and the mid-US.  This species is a mimid (family Mimidae), a family made up of thrashers, mockingbirds and the Gray Catbird.  These birds are known for their long, repetitive songs.  They tend to be secretive and often hide in thickets.  They feed on insects and fruits.

The Mockingbird is the most conspicuous mimid.  Its song is loud and it can mimic the song of other birds.  The bird is about 25 cm long (10 in), is mostly gray with white wing bars and white outer tail feathers which it flashes during courtship.  The genders are similar.  The tail appears long.  The bird also shows black on its wings and tail.  The yellow eye often is evident.  The Northern Mockingbird is given the 'Northern' in its common name to distinguish it from the Bahama Mockingbird and the Blue Mockingbird of Mexico.

Northern Mockingbird [E Mills Photo]

The Mockingbird has thrived with the urbanization of the landscape.  In its regular range it is often seen conspicuously singing from the tops of exposed perches.  It likes brushy fields and suburban landscapes.  It often forages on the ground looking for seeds, fruits, insects, worms, small crustaceans, reptiles and amphibians.

The Northern Mockingbird is the state bird of several US states; Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.  There it is common and flashy, making a good symbol.  If you have encountered many of this species you will notice that it is an aggressive bird.  It will voraciously defend its territory especially in breeding season.  Under threat it will attack pets or humans whom it sees as intruders.  It is an enthusiastic singer and will soon be filling the landscape with its varied songs.  Some of these will even be heard at night!