The Northern Mockingbird

• Songs of other birds
• Insect sounds
• Amphibian sounds
• Bicycles
• Rusty gate hinges
• Car horns
• Lots of other outdoor and mechanical noises

And since it’s such a good singer of other bird’s songs, it does not have its own true song. Here are some other interesting facts about the mockingbird’s song

1. The song can last several minutes as it goes through a cycle of sounds, which it adopts as its “song.”
2. The male will sing longer and more vividly, trying to attract the attention of the female.
3. Males can be heard singing late in to the night, and in the very early morning hours.
4. Known to mimic alarms!

ATTRACTING Mockingbirds will come in to backyard feeders and eat:

• Fruit
• Black Oil Sunflower Seed
• Suet, especially when it’s laced with fruit
• Sometimes insects and moths

The mocking bird can be especially aggressive toward other birds. This is especially true when food is scarce, or when they’re nesting. I’ve witnessed the bird engage in overtly aggressive swooping behavior intended to drive off other birds from a food source during frigid weather. It’s funny to watch. He’s so busy assaulting other birds, he sometimes forgets to eat!

The best way to control for this is offer suet or fruit away from the core of your feeder station. With luck, he’ll hang and guard that element while leaving the other birds to eat in peace.

This is my approach—well, that and to flat out not worry about it. The other birds can still eat despite the mockingbirds antics.

APPEARANCEThe northern mockingbird is a medium sized bird, and stand 9 to 10 inches tall. Both sexes look alike with a silvery gray head and body. The underside of the belly is lighter gray, and white bars can be seen on the wings when the bird is in flight.

LOCATIONThe northern mockingbird makes its year round home in the southern and eastern states. Its winter range is from New York to Texas, and south. During the summer months, it can be seen in Lower Michigan and up to California. After it reaches its summer range, it begins the mating ritual. Males and females perform elaborate dancing rituals. They will charge each other, and flash their wings.

OTHER FACTSMale and female northern mockingbirds share nest building duties. They will form a cup nest of sticks in a tree, near a food source. The female will lay three to five bluish eggs, at least twice in a year. The female will remain on the nest for 12 to 13 days until hatching. In warmer climates, she may lay three or more broods in a year.

Once the eggs are laid, both parents become very territorial. The male will chase any species of bird away from the nearby feeders and branches until their fledglings leave.

There are feeders available that can be adjusted to keep heavier birds like the northern mockingbird off. However, that will not prevent his chasing behavior. It’s natural, and the other birds will still eat. You may just have to tolerate it for awhile.

Just remember, if you hear an alarm at 4:00 in the morning, go back to sleep. It’s just your neighborhood northern mockingbird—well, mocking you!


I hope you found this article about the Northern Mockingbird useful. Click here for more great information about bird feeders and bird houses.