Mockingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern Mockingbird |
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| Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos |
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Mimidae
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Melanotis |
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Mockingbirds are a special group of songbirds found in the New World, which means they live in North and South America. They are famous for their amazing ability to copy, or "mimic," the sounds of other birds, insects, and even amphibians. They often sing these copied songs loudly and quickly, one after another! There are about 17 different kinds of mockingbirds, divided into three main groups.
Contents
What Are Mockingbirds?
Mockingbirds belong to a family of birds called Mimidae. This family also includes thrashers and catbirds. They are known for their slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Most mockingbirds have duller colors like gray and brown. This helps them blend in with their surroundings.
Amazing Singers
The most famous thing about mockingbirds is their singing. They can learn and repeat many different sounds. A single mockingbird might know hundreds of different songs! They can copy the calls of other birds, like jays, orioles, and even hawks. They also mimic sounds from insects and frogs. Male mockingbirds sing to attract a mate and to protect their territory. They often sing all day and sometimes even at night.
Where Do Mockingbirds Live?
Mockingbirds live in many different places across the Americas. The Northern mockingbird is very common in North America. You can find them in gardens, parks, and open woodlands. They like areas with scattered trees and shrubs. These places offer good spots for nesting and finding food. Some species live in warmer, tropical areas of Central and South America.
What Do Mockingbirds Eat?
Mockingbirds are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Their diet changes with the seasons. In the spring and summer, they mostly eat insects. This includes beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. They are very good at catching insects on the ground. In the fall and winter, they eat more fruits and berries. They enjoy berries from plants like holly, dogwood, and elderberry.
Life Cycle of a Mockingbird
Mockingbirds usually build their nests in shrubs or small trees. Both the male and female help build the nest. It is shaped like a cup and made from twigs, grass, and leaves. The female typically lays 3 to 5 eggs. The eggs are usually pale blue or green with brown spots.
The female mockingbird sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This is called incubation. It takes about 12 to 14 days for the eggs to hatch. Once the chicks hatch, both parents work hard to feed them. The baby birds grow very quickly. They are ready to leave the nest, or fledge, in about 10 to 15 days. Mockingbirds can have several broods of chicks in one year.
Fun Facts About Mockingbirds
- Mockingbirds can sometimes be aggressive. They will chase away other birds or even animals that come too close to their nest.
- The Northern mockingbird is the state bird of five U.S. states: Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
- Some mockingbirds have been known to mimic mechanical sounds, like car alarms or squeaky gates!
- They have excellent memories and can remember people who have been kind or unkind to them.
Images for kids
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Fledgling stage of the northern mockingbird
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The Chilean mockingbird, Mimus thenca
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