One of the most common birds in this area is the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). In fact, it is the state bird of Florida, which gives you an idea how common they are. Over the many years that I have lived in Florida I have had many encounters with these birds and in a variety of situations, both in the country and in the city. They are pretty common in populated areas and seem to have no real fear of people or our pets. They are also frequently found at the edges of wooded areas, meadows, pastures, and desert scrub in the west. They are omnivores and eat a large variety of insects, small lizards, spiders, and even small mammals and birds as well as most edible fruits and seeds. The bird in these photos was perched in and snacking on firethorn berries.

There are 17 species of mockingbirds in the world, but the only one that lives in North America, which is of course, the northern mockingbird. It can be found in most of North America from southern Canada, through the United States, and into Mexico. There are three subspecies which vary slightly in size and coloration, but all look very similar. Males and females also look very similar, with males generally being slightly larger. Both males and females are involved in nest building, feeding and caring for the young, and defending the nest. They are well known for being aggressive towards people, pets, and even much larger birds and birds of prey that they perceive as a threat.

Besides being known for their aggressive defensive behavior, mockingbirds are also known for their ability to mimic noises. In fact, their scientific name means “many tongued mimic”. They can mimic many other birds calls, dogs barking, people talking, cats calling, doors squeaking, and even car alarms going off. Interestingly, even though their bird calls certainly sound authentic to people, they don’t seem to fool most of the species that they are copying. Between this ability to mimic and some of their crazy defensive antics (we had a pair near the back door of our dorm that would attack anyone who used that door during the breeding season), northern mockingbirds definitely have loads of personality and certainly rank highly among Florida’s most interesting birds.