Bird guide · Mimus polyglottos
Northern Mockingbird
What the northern mockingbird eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from every US state.
- Season
- Partial migrant; some move south in fall.
- Size
- 9 in (22.5 cm)
- Eats
- fruit, mealworms, suet
- Most common
- Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
Food
What do northern mockingbirds eat?
At feeders, northern mockingbirds take fruit, mealworms, suet.
Flashes its white wing patches while running on lawns; defends its nest boldly.
Feeder that suits it
A tray with chopped fruit, berries or mealworms.
Range
Where do northern mockingbirds live?
Very common in towns and cities, especially in the South. By share of all bird sightings, northern mockingbirds are most common in Alabama (3.0%).
States where northern mockingbirds are most common
- Alabama3.0%
- Louisiana2.8%
- Mississippi2.7%
- Texas2.7%
- Florida2.4%
- Tennessee2.4%
- South Carolina2.3%
- Georgia2.2%
- Arkansas1.9%
- North Carolina1.9%
Share of all bird sightings in each state that are northern mockingbirds, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the northern mockingbird migrate?
Partial migrant; some move south in fall.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in October.
Share of all bird sightings in the US that are northern mockingbirds, by month.
Identification
How to identify the northern mockingbird
Adults: Slim, long-tailed and pale grey with white wing patches and white outer tail feathers.
Young birds: Dark streaks on the chest and darker eyes.
Size: 9 in (22.5 cm)
On camera
Getting the northern mockingbird on a feeder camera
Use a camera feeder with an open tray for fruit and mealworms; many fruit eaters ignore seed.
Questions
Northern Mockingbird: questions
What do northern mockingbirds eat?
At feeders, fruit, mealworms, suet.
Do northern mockingbirds migrate?
Partial migrant; some move south in fall.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in October.
Where do northern mockingbirds live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida. They are rare or absent in Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota.