Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Introduction

A long-tailed, grey, thrush-sized bird that is renowned for its song (birds in this family can use both halves of their syrinx independently).

Northern Mockingbird is an extremely rare visitor to Britain, with just a handful of records. The first of these was at Saltash, Cornwall in August 1982. Earlier records had been rejected as likely being of captive origin or ship-assisted. More recently an individual was found in Devon in January 2021. Remarkably, this individual was relocated in Surrey in April and in Northumberland in May.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

49g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

181 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cornwall, 1982

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution.

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

Northern Mockingbird is a very rare vagrant. These records relate to one well-watched individual.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Northern Mockingbird movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Northern Mockingbird, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Northern Mockingbird

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Mimidae
Scientific name: Mimus polyglottos
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

Euring code number: 10670

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: mim políglota
Czech: drozdec mnohohlasý
Danish: Nordlig Spottedrossel
Dutch: Spotlijster
Estonian: taidur-pilalind
Finnish: taiturimatkija
French: Moqueur polyglotte

German: Spottdrossel
Hungarian: énekes gezerigó
Icelandic: Hermifugl
Italian: Mimo poliglotto
Latvian: dziedatajžagaste
Lithuanian: amerikinis megdžiotojas
Norwegian: Sangspottefugl

Polish: przedrzezniacz pólnocny
Portuguese: tordo-imitador
Slovak: spevák mnohohlasý
Slovenian: severni oponašalec
Spanish: Sinsonte norteño
Swedish: nordlig härmtrast
Welsh: Gwatwarwr y Gogledd

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species