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. This bird is mainly a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather. This species has rarely been observed in Europe. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Turdus polyglottos. The northern mockingbird is known for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, "many-tongued mimic". 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 northern mockingbird is an omnivore, eating both insects and fruits. It is often found in open areas and forest edges but forages in grassy land. The northern mockingbird breeds in southeastern Canada, the United States, northern Mexico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and the Greater Antilles. It is replaced farther south by its closest living relative, the tropical mockingbird. The Socorro mockingbird, an endangered species, is also closely related, contrary to previous opinion. The northern mockingbird is listed as of least concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The northern mockingbird is known for its intelligence. Multiple studies have demonstrated the bird's capability to identify individual humans, particularly noting those who had previously been intruders or threats.[3][4] Birds also recognize their breeding spots and return to areas in which they had greatest success in previous years. Urban birds are more likely to demonstrate this behavior.

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. ^ Cite error: The named reference Levey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Levey, Douglas J.; Poulsen, John R.; Schaeffer, Andrew P.; Deochand, Michelle E.; Oswald, Jessica A.; Robinson, Scott K.; Londoño, Gustavo A. (2023-06-24). "Wild mockingbirds distinguish among familiar humans". Scientific Reports. 13 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-023-36225-x. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 10290633. PMID 37355713.