Discover

Today
Animals
Explore
Archive
Search

Use it

Classroom
Resources
Field lab
Quiz
Saved

Trust

Methodology
Sources
Corrections
Accessibility
Contributors

Details

About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
Newsletter

Northern Mockingbird | Daily Animal Facts

Animal profile

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

AvesOpen country with scattered shrubs, hedgerows, farmland and townsLeast Concern

Field profile

The northern mockingbird is a slim grey songbird with white wing patches that flash in flight. It is best known for imitating the songs of other birds and a range of mechanical sounds, repeating each borrowed phrase several times before switching. It defends territory aggressively year-round.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2023-08-09

Northern Mockingbird

A mockingbird keeps learning new songs for life

Most songbirds close their learning window in their first year and sing the same repertoire until they die. The northern mockingbird is an open-ended learner, adding fresh imitations across successive seasons so that older males carry larger repertoires.

Read with evidence →