The Northern Mockingbird: What You Should Know

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Mockingbirds, among other species, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal to interfere with wild and nesting birds. For this reason, it is inadvisable to remove or heavily prune trees and hedges during nesting season. To avoid being targeted by an aggressive mockingbird, September - February are more suitable times to make significant landscaping changes.
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Mockingbirds are attracted to forest edges, parks, small trees, freshly-cut lawns and to the tops of utility poles in suburban areas. They often nest in dense, low shrubs. If Mockingbirds are attracted to your property, it may be a consequence of the food sources it provides. Consider covering berry bushes with netting or add an additional bird feeder to a different area of the property to allow other species to get in on the action.
Mockingbirds may behave aggressively toward some species of birds, such as crows and hawks. Songbirds that mockingbirds tolerate within their territories may benefit from mockers' efforts to protect the area from mutual threats, however. Predation may occur from squirrels and snakes. The most common threat to wild and nesting birds, however, are ordinary house cats. If your area has a feral cat problem, please report the problem to animal control. If you are a pet owner, keep your cat indoors, particularly from dusk to dawn. Doing so protects cats and birds alike. Just as birds are common victims of cats, outdoor cats may fall victim to coyotes and raccoons, among other nocturnal threats.
Studies have shown that mockingbirds have the capacity to recognize individuals. They are capable of distinguishing between people and pets they view as threats and those they do not. Dive-bomb attacks by mockingbirds are most likely to occur during nesting season, which may begin as early as March and extend as late as August. To avoid being targeted by an over-protective mockingbird, keep your distance. Do not disturb a nesting site or approach their young during the fledgling stage (up to three weeks after leaving the nest).
Mockingbirds in search of a mate may sing night and day. If a lonely male mockingbird is causing you to lose sleep on a spring or summer night, make use of earplugs and/or a white-noise generator (an air purifier, for example). If a mockingbird fails to attract a mate, he will abandon the territory.
Mockingbirds consume grasshoppers and other garden pests. They are not believed to represent a significant agricultural threat.
Mockingbirds that reside where winters are harsh may migrate South.
Mockingbirds do not flock. A single individual or mated pair may occupy a 1-2-acre territory, and that territory may shift in the fall/winter vs. spring/summer.

Source: http://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/northern-mockingbird/ Book: "The Mockingbird" by Robin W. Doughty

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Anonymous

July 7, 20210 found this helpful

We have a 1/4acre property and have 9-15 mockingbirds that attack everyone and everything in sight from February until October. The destroy our gardens, attack our young son, our husky, our cats, tear to shreds our porch screens and never shut up.

Anonymous

April 6, 20220 found this helpful

They chase my blue birds away and my blue birds have already laid there eggs

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