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Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Bird · family Mimidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
48 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
14 years[4]

The Northern Mockingbird is a songbird in the family Mimidae[5]. It is ranked Secure worldwide and is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Northern Mockingbird G5, which means Secure worldwide[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5, also Secure[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. USFWS data do not list it as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Northern Mockingbird lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Mockingbird as native in 48 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. That covers states from Maine and New York in the Northeast to Florida and Texas in the South and Oregon and California in the West[3]. NatureServe also gives each state its own conservation rank[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5B,S5NMEWisconsin: native, state rank S3WIVermont: native, state rank S4B,SNANVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: native, state rank S3BIDMontana: native, state rank SUBMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNAMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S3MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S3BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S1BSDIowa: native, state rank S3BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S4CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S4B,S3NUTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5B,S5NMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (48 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS4Apparently Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS3BVulnerable (breeding)
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS3Vulnerable
MinnesotaSNANot Applicable
MississippiS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSUBUnrankable (breeding)
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS4B,S3NApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
VermontS4B,SNANApparently Secure (breeding), Not Applicable (nonbreeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS3Vulnerable
WyomingS3BVulnerable (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records shrubland, savanna, old fields, cropland and hedgerows, suburbs and orchards, and riparian areas as habitat types[10]. The bird lives in open or partly open places, such as scrub, thickets, gardens and towns, and it is absent from forest interior[11]. It nests in dense shrubs, trees and vines, often near houses[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults and nestlings eat mainly insects and other small invertebrates, plus small fruits[12]. One diet estimate puts it at 50% invertebrates and 50% fruit[13]. Adults are about 25 cm (10 in) long[14]. They weigh about 49 g[15]. The clutch size is 3 to 6[16]. The female incubates for 11 to 17 days, and both parents tend the young[16]. The longest recorded lifespan is 20 years in the wild[17]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 14 years 10 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 25 cm (10 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 49 g (1.7 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[17] 20 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 14 years 10 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[19] 12 days
Female maturity[20] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[21] Invertivore, Frugivore
Migration[22] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[13]

  • 50% invertebrates
  • 50% fruit

When to look for it

The Northern Mockingbird is active by day and also around dawn and dusk[23]. It may sing day and night in the breeding season[24]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[22]. Birds at the northern edge of the breeding range move partly southward for winter[25]. Observation records on GBIF peak in March, April and May[26]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 932,952 recordsJanFebruary: 986,833 recordsFebMarch: 1,024,624 recordsMarApril: 1,382,253 recordsAprMay: 1,374,548 recordsMayJune: 863,237 recordsJunJuly: 710,802 recordsJulAugust: 566,219 recordsAugSeptember: 677,118 recordsSepOctober: 976,176 recordsOctNovember: 760,370 recordsNovDecember: 813,388 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January932,952
February986,833
March1,024,624
April1,382,253
May1,374,548
June863,237
July710,802
August566,219
September677,118
October976,176
November760,370
December813,388

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Mockingbird as present in 210 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 186 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Florida, California, Virginia, North Carolina[28]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Mockingbird endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide[2].
Where does the Northern Mockingbird live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 48 US states and territories[3]. It lives in open and partly open places such as scrub, gardens and towns[11].
What does the Northern Mockingbird eat?
It eats mainly insects and other small invertebrates, plus small fruits[12]. One estimate is 50% invertebrates and 50% fruit[13].
How big is a Northern Mockingbird?
NatureServe records a typical length of 25 cm (10 in)[14]. It records a typical weight of 49 g[15].
How long does a Northern Mockingbird live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 20 years[17]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 14 years 10 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Mockingbird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Mockingbird: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Mockingbird as native in 48 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Northern Mockingbird from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 14 years 10 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a bird in the family Mimidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Northern Mockingbird is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Mockingbird (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Mockingbird: Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Mockingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Mockingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% invertebrates, 50% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 25 cm (10 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 49 g (1.7 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Mockingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  21. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe migration category for Northern Mockingbird: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Circadian, Diurnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on phenology for Northern Mockingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Northern Mockingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Northern Mockingbird in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Mockingbird as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  28. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Mockingbird: Texas, Florida, California, Virginia, North Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.