Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Vocal Northern Mockingbird
By: Tom Berg
Everyone knows most birds love to sing, and the pleasant sounds of birds chirping or chattering in nearby trees is a welcome sound. Some bird species sing more than others, though, and one of the most vocal birds of them all is the northern mockingbird. Mockingbirds sing throughout the day and some individuals sing into the night as well.
The northern mockingbird can be found throughout the entire United States, and most individuals do not migrate. They are a medium-sized bird, very similar in size to a common American robin. Their feathers are mostly brownish gray, with a lighter gray head and chest and conspicuous white patches on their wings. They also have a very long tail which is often cocked upwards as they hop around on the ground.
The mockingbird’s claim to fame is its song. Or to be more accurate, its extensive repertoire of songs. Northern mockingbirds love to sing, and sometimes they seem to sing non-stop for hours. They are experts at imitating the songs of other birds, too, thus the name mockingbird. It is not uncommon to hear a mockingbird sing a dozen different bird songs in one sitting, one after another.
Mockingbirds always seem to be coming up with new songs, too. Researchers have found that these birds will keep adding new sounds and new songs to their collection of melodies throughout their entire lives. Some mockingbirds have been known to sing more than 200 different songs. Although they sing year-round, most of their singing tends to take place from late-winter (February) through the end of summer (end of August).
Even though northern mockingbirds are somewhat common, they typically do not visit backyard bird feeders. Their preferred food is a variety of insects throughout the warm weather months, including flying and crawling insects. They will readily eat earthworms if they are available, too. During the fall and winter they switch to eating mostly berries and fruits. Some favorites are wild grapes, blackberries, mulberries and holly fruits, among others.
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