Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae Genus: Mimus Species: polyglottos Profile: 10 positives 3 neutrals 2 negatives Regional... This bird has been reportedly found in the following regions: Vincent, Alabama Chandler, Arizona El Mirage, Arizona Tucson, Arizona , California Country Club, California Oakland, California Reseda, California San Diego, California Turlock, California Ukiah, California , Florida Babson Park, Florida Big Pine Key, Florida Clermont, Florida Palm Shores, Florida Santa Rosa Beach, Florida South Daytona, Florida Trenton, Florida Wellborn, Florida Alpharetta, Georgia Byron, Georgia Dacula, Georgia Snellville, Georgia Coatesville, Indiana Patriot, Indiana Benton, Kentucky Ewing, Kentucky Hebron, Kentucky Symsonia, Kentucky Baton Rouge, Louisiana Bush, Louisiana Benton, Maine Carthage, Maine Clinton, Maryland Ferndale, Maryland Halifax, Massachusetts Spencer, Massachusetts Golden, Mississippi Brunswick, Missouri Conway, Missouri Salem, Missouri Beachwood, New Jersey Laurel Lake, New Jersey Himrod, New York South Richmond Hill, New York West Islip, New York Yonkers, New York Beulaville, North Carolina Elizabeth City, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Belfield, North Dakota Medora, North Dakota Bucyrus, Ohio Dayton, Ohio Lebanon, Ohio Downingtown, Pennsylvania Glenshaw, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Scranton, South Carolina Taylors, South Carolina Memphis, Tennessee (2 reports) Summertown, Tennessee Austin, Texas (2 reports) Desoto, Texas Euless, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Houston, Texas Impact, Texas Mckinney, Texas Windcrest, Texas Falmouth, Virginia Penhook, Virginia Walkerton, Virginia Petersburg, West Virginia Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive Sheila_FW On Dec 30, 2008, Sheila_FW from Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: The song of the 'mocker' is a beautiful chorus of calls, and changes with the season. It was adopted as the state bird of Texas in 1927. Positive chuck7701 On Apr 7, 2009, chuck7701 from McKinney, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: They love grubs and larva, but do not bother earthworms. If you have some in your area, routinely collect the grubs when digging and put them in a water tray in plain view. I used to have one around for years that would come eat the grubs out of my hand. New one comes for grubs when I whistle. Always hangs around when I'm working the beds looking for a handout. Neutral rampbrat On Jun 4, 2009, rampbrat from Abilene, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: As a native born Texan, I can't make a negative comment.lol But we've had problems with mockingbirds being very aggressive towards both cats and humans. A pair nested near a friend's driveway and they "dived bombed" anyone who tried to get in the car. I've seen cats with puncture holes from the birds' beaks. They are definately gutsy. Positive BonnieGardens On Jun 9, 2009, BonnieGardens from Clermont, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: Every day many fly around while I garden. They love the birdbath. They mimic many other birds. When I call to them they come to some of my feeders. They also perch on my fench and watch me work. Great companions. Never have bothered our outside cat who usually accompanies me to the garden also. Positive natureluvver On Sep 4, 2009, natureluvver from Philadelphia, PA wrote: I absolutely love these birds. They usually nest near my yard because they like the grapes and peanutbutter suet I put outside. Sometimes they are so territorial that they chase every single bird, and sometimes squirrels, out of my yard. They've never gone after me. I love their "songs", even in the pre-dawn hours. I think they are very intelligent. Negative obatalov On Sep 10, 2009, obatalov from San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) wrote: These birds are very territorial and are willing to defend their territory against all intruders. I have seen them chasing crows and other large birds away. They also pester the local cats. Our cat used to walk around on a leash all the time and they would dive-bomb him. Now he stays at home, but they still taunt him from the bush in front of our house with scratchy 'chat' calls. They also are territorial amongst themselves and annoy everyone with their loud raspy calls. The other posts mention their mimicry of other birds' songs, but the only calls we hear are the territorial ones. For me, the negative aspects far outweigh any positive qualities. Positive Debitha1 On Oct 12, 2009, Debitha1 from Bush, LA wrote: I wonder if this bird is just cursed with an overly territorial instinct. I have seen them flinging themselves against their reflections in both my car windows (unoccupied) and the sidelight windows on my front porch . I actually feel bad for the poor thing, as he is so often wont to serenade us with such a beautiful array with so many different instrumentals! Positive rogersjo On Oct 14, 2009, rogersjo from Scranton, SC (Zone 8a) wrote: Ditto last comment made on 10/12/09. He has been diving into windows and mirrows on hubby's truck especially but also house windows. My husband does not love them the way I do. :-) I have been worried there was something terribly wrong with it, but evidently this is normal behavior for them? Positive plantladylin On Mar 27, 2010, plantladylin from Daytona Beach, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: I love the Northern Mockingbird which is the state bird here in Florida and a very common bird in the south. I find them to be territorial when they are protecting/defending a nest with babies. Their spring song is just beautiful. Positive BloomingNewYork On Apr 11, 2010, BloomingNewYork from New York, NY (Zone 7a) wrote: Mockingbirds are a very welcome addition to the wildlife in my area. Their songs are remarkably diverse and very beautiful to hear coming from the low branches of a dogwood on a quiet day in May. The only thing that me from hearing their song is the fact that they dont frequently visit my backyard. Negative Kelli On Apr 20, 2010, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Though the adults have a pleasing song, they peck at my tomatoes, poo on the garden produce, eat my blackberries and spread seeds of invasive plants. The young give off a loud, shrill screech every couple seconds from sunup to dark for three weeks per brood and there are multiple broods per year. They drive DH and I to distraction. Neutral AnnOWL On Apr 25, 2010, AnnOWL from Monterey, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: I heard one giving a very convincing imitation of video game sounds! Positive jmj_57 On Oct 13, 2011, jmj_57 from Glen Burnie, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: Absolutely LOVE their range of songs! I will add photos of a Northern Mockingbird nest, eggs, hatchlings and the fledglings. The nest was located in a dwarf colorado spruce near my front picture window in Glen Burnie, MD. I went out and took pictures each day to document the history of this nest. Totally amazing birds. Yes, they are territorial but they are extremely intelligent songbirds. Positive coastalzonepush On Jan 15, 2012, coastalzonepush from Orlando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: it is very entertaining to watch mockingbirds take on much larger animals like cats and cranes when defending their nests. fills the air with wonderful chattering. Neutral ms_lovely On Jun 19, 2012, ms_lovely from Sun Prairie, WI (Zone 5a) wrote: Has anyone else seen a Northern Mockingbird in Madison, WI?

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