How to Identify a Mockingbird

To the untrained eye, mockingbirds are all but indistinguishable from many other small birds. They do not do not possess extraordinary dietary, mating or living requirements. The key to identifying a mockingbird is observe its physical characteristics.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Binoculars
• Digital camera

1. Note the eyes. Mockingbirds have a dazzling combination of green and yellow hues in their eyes that are distinctive among common birds of the South.
2. Limit your search for mockingbirds to the southern part of the United States. Mockingbirds spend all year in the Southeast and Southwest due to the mild conditions and abundant vegetation. A mockingbird will occasionally appear in the Midwest during summer, but these birds do not migrate extensively.
3. Observe the flight patterns of a mockingbird to identify its life cycle stage. Adult mockingbirds flap their wings in short bursts before gliding for long distances.
4. Note the color of the bird's throat. You can identify mockingbirds from the light gray hues of their chests and upper necks.
5. View the eggs in their nest. Mockingbirds lay eggs that feature a mix of blue, green and brown spots.
6. Listen for the sounds. The mockingbird emits a distinctive, shrill call, designed to scare away other the other birds that compete with it for food.
7. Observe the bill. Mockingbirds have small, black beaks designed to grab seeds and worms from the surface of the earth.
8. Check shape and span of the wings. Mockingbird wing round at the ends for improved gliding. A mockingbird's wings range between 13 and 15 inches from tip to tip.

Tips & Warnings

• Mockingbirds will swoop down on anyone who invades their territory to protect their food and offspring. You can prevent them from building nests on your property by picking up loose debris at the end of winter.