The Northern Mockingbird

The Northern Mockingbird, aka, the bird that gives the most side-eye! We've all heard 'em. Even when you think you're hearing another bird, it's probably them!

The Mockingbird's genus name is Mimus polyglottos.

Mimus = mimic, actor

Polyglottos = many-tongued

Fitting name, right! The Northern Mockingbird sings over 200 different songs throughout its lifetime! It is able to mimic other birds, animals, insects, and even machinery and instruments.

To help recognize if it's a Northern Mockingbird you're hearing, they often repeat their song at least three times and switch songs frequently.

When it comes to behavior, they are ground feeders, which means they forage for food on the ground.

They do something called wing-flash, where they raise their wings while foraging to scare insects into the open.

They eat more insects in the summer and fruit in the fall and winter.

The Northern Mockingbird is the State Bird of Florida (and Arkansas and Mississippi and Tennessee and...Texas). Recently, many Florida conservationists have been trying to get the Florida scrub jay or the American flamingo as the state bird, as they are better representations of our unique wildlife.

Now that you have learned about them, I encourage you to go out and find some Northern Mockingbirds!