Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is in the Mockingbirds and Thrashers family (Mimidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 213,008 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Northern Mockingbird: observations by month (U.S.)

About Northern Mockingbird

The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the only 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 Linnaeus in his Systema Naturæ in 1758 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...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Northern Mockingbird by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis

Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum

Curve-billed ThrasherToxostoma curvirostre

California ThrasherToxostoma redivivum

Sage ThrasherOreoscoptes montanus

Long-billed ThrasherToxostoma longirostre

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ