Species-Specific Management (SSM)

Northern Mockingbird

The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is one of the most common mimic thrushes in the New World, ranging throughout the United States, and into both Canada and Mexico. Its drab gray and black plumage helps conceal this mockingbird while it perches in scrub and forest clearings. However, its large repertoire of songs make the northern mockingbird a well-known songbird to many people. Their virtuosity and general tolerance for human activities attract the public so well that managing for mockingbirds must almost always include some type of non-expert (i.e., the general public) involvement. Prevailing attitudes show a desire to increase populations in forested areas and also along suburban and forest edges.

Managing mockingbirds may be accomplished by manipulating both their space and their food supply.

1. Like many songbirds, mockingbirds are intensely territorial and occupy two types of territory - breeding and winter. In general, an abundance of dying tree stems over large areas (i.e., 7 acres/pair) are critical for hiding and perching throughout the year.
2. Breeding territories, in addition, require suitable nest sites away from other mockingbirds. Promote growth of many small stands separated by forest clearings to accommodate many individuals by providing pairs with their own "private" space. This will minimize competition during the breeding season.
3. Winter territories are smaller than breeding territories. However, they must be adequately provided with a high quality food source. This source can be a single but prolific fruit-bearing tree or bush. (Specific vegetation types will be discussed later.) It is especially important to provide cover or protection from severe weather during the winter. At least a snag per acre should be maintained.
4. Preferred nesting and perching sites include:

   cedar, locust, spruce, boxwood, vines, hackberry trees, low shrubs, elm, hawthorne

5. Mockingbirds show a preference for deciduous plants and nesting in thorn bushes.
6. Create contrasting edges by planting preferred vegetation in patches of evergreens, patches of hardwoods, and patches of semi-dense scrub.
7. Create edge length by randomly clearing forested areas 10 - 12 acres in size. Mockingbirds are especially fond of these clearings.
8. In heavily farmed areas, encourage farmers to withdraw strips of marginal land from rotation. This will create highly contrasting edges.
9. Protect stream edges, at least 50 feet up the bank. Although not dependent on large bodies of water, mockingbirds enjoy feeding near streams and are known to just "hang out" on stream banks.
10. Manage for insects, berries, and seeds:

    beetles, spiders, insect larvae, grasshoppers, ants,

11. Insects are most important as a food source in late spring during the breeding season. Leaf litter, fallen twigs and trees, and diseased trees are prime insect habitat. Do not clean up this type of litter - promote it.
12. Harmful crop insects that they eat include:

    weevils, chinch bugs, grasshoppers, cucumber beetles

    These insects are highly preferred foods of mockingbirds. Inform farmers about the benefits that these birds provide by preying on crop-damaging insects.

13. Promote heavy growth of shrubs and vines by clearing out all overstory in forest patches of about 1000 m2. Species to plant or encourage are:

    holly, smilax, woodbine, wild grape, blackberries, sunflowers, a variety of grasses , sumac, a variety of grains

    (Grasses also provide good cover.)

14. Encourage people living nearby to set out bird feeders year around and stock them with seeds, berries, meat, and dried fruits. This provides supplemental food during severe weather and during the intense breeding season.
15. Mockingbird predators include hawks, cats, dogs, jays, raccoons, and snakes. Management of predators should concentrate on controlling cats and dogs, since these are "unnatural" forest residents. Require leash laws for all domestic animals at all times when out of doors.
16. Limit wide uses of agriculture-related pesticides.
17. Limit the intensity of mechanized farming of large fields, especially those near forest edges. This will result in less soil compaction and less disturbance of breeding efforts.
18. Enforce laws prohibiting the caging of native birds.
19. Inform the public about the positive benefits of healthy mockingbird populations and the happiness they bring to people who enjoy "walking through nature."
20. Educate people on how they can help increase mockingbird populations in their own backyards.
21. Use the northern mockingbird's popularity to your advantage. Encourage people to join in on local bird-watching activities and to volunteer with community habitat management projects.
22. Keep records and monitor the change resulting from your management. Make adjustments. Become cost effective.
23. Some individuals migrate to Mexico or South America. Encourage work in the bird's habitat there.

A contribution of Andrea Alberico (1992), Department of Fisheriers and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0321

This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.