Northern mockingbird

Northern mockingbird
An adult in New York City
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Mimidae
Genus: Mimus
Species:
M. polyglottos
Binomial name
Mimus polyglottos
Northern mockingbird range
  Breeding range
  Year-round range
Synonyms
  • Turdus polyglottos Linnaeus, 1758

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.[2]

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.[3] It is an omnivore and consumes fruit, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. It is often found in open areas, open woodlands and forest edges, and is quite common in urbanized areas. The species breeds from southeastern Canada throughout the United States to the Greater Antilles. It is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The mockingbird is influential in United States culture, being the state bird of five states, appearing in book titles, songs and lullabies, and making other appearances in popular culture.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Mimus polyglottos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22711026A111233524. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22711026A111233524.en. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Northern Mockingbird". All About Birds.
  3. ^ Levey, Douglas J.; Londoño, Gustavo A.; Ungvari-Martin, Judit; Hiersoux, Monique R.; Jankowski, Jill E.; Poulsen, John R.; Stracey, Christine M.; Robinson, Scott K. (2009-06-02). "Urban mockingbirds quickly learn to identify individual humans". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (22): 8959–8962. Bibcode:2009PNAS..106.8959L. doi:10.1073/pnas.0811422106. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 2690012. PMID 19451622.