Fun Blue Mockingbird Facts For Kids

The blue mockingbird species is one of the prettiest birds in the world. This beautiful thrush is endemic to Mexico forest regions. Apart from Mexico, the species sometimes winters in the southeastern range of Arizona and is also a vagrant in other parts of North America and the US such as Texas, California, and New Mexico. The species range may rarely extend to South and Central America as well. The blue mockingbird is known for hiding amongst the dense cover of trees, feeding on fruits that have fallen on the ground as well as insects. The blue mockingbird species likes to live in woodlands and within these woodlands, it inhabits riparian thickets, pine-oak forests, and scrub vegetation. Elevation-wise, it may live in lowlands or about  10,000 ft (3048 m) above sea level. There are close to 500,000-4,999,999 mature individuals of the blue mockingbird species in the world and the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies it as a species of Least Concern, but the population of the species shows a decreasing trend due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In its native Mexico, the blue mockingbird subspecies M. c. longirostris may be at risk and is classified as one of Special Concern.

Keep reading to know about the blue mockingbird. For more content on the birds of the world, check out these hummingbird fun facts and bee-eater surprising facts.

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What type of animal is a blue mockingbird?

The blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) is a bird.

What class of animal does a blue mockingbird belong to?

The blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) species belongs to the Aves class of animals

How many blue mockingbirds are there in the world?

There are 500,000-4,999,999 mature blue mockingbirds in the world.

Where does a blue mockingbird live?

The blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) species lives mainly in a range of woodlands and shrublands, in Mexico, South and Central America, and sometimes in America, in Texas. The species favors the tropical and subtropical range and finds habitat in a dry or moist forest. North America definitely has more populations of the bird than South America, where it is only a vagrant.

What is a blue mockingbird's habitat?

Blue mockingbirds often hide out in a habitat of thick vegetation, close to the ground. It may go higher when vocalizing. This species favors all kinds of elevations, from the sea level to as high as 8,040 ft (2,450 m). It also favors different kinds of habitat like riparian thickets, humid forests, pine-oak forests, scrubs. Although they inhabit drier areas, they are most often close to water bodies. They build nests in trees out of grasses, twigs, and roots.

Who do blue mockingbirds live with?

Blue mockingbirds live alone or in pairs.

How long does a blue mockingbird live?

A blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) may live close to eight years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

The blue mockingbird species reproduces by mating and laying blue (usually two) eggs.  

What is their conservation status?

The Conservation Status of blue mockingbirds, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature is Least Concern.

What do blue mockingbirds look like?

Blue mockingbirds are 9.5-10.5 in (24-27 cm) long with wingspans of 13-15.5 in (33-39 cm). It is a medium-sized bird that is primarily a dull blue color. The blue color comes from the way the feathers are structured and not pigmentation, so it may sometimes look gray or gray-blue or even black depending on how the sunshine hits it. Its upperparts, wings, and underparts are all blue. The patterns on its back, belly, breast are solid. The breast has darker blue streaks. The eyes of the blue mockingbird are red, and a black mask surrounds them. This black mask runs up to the long and thin bill which has a slight curve. The nape, throat, crown, and forehead are all blue as well. It has rounded wings and a rounded, long, and graduated tail. The legs and feet of the blue mockingbird are black, and the tail is solid and blue.

How cute are they?

Blue mockingbirds are some of the most outstandingly beautiful among the birds of the world. They are the colored jewels of the Mexican woodlands. Their uniformly blue bodies look like expensive ornamentations in the thick green forests they inhabit. Another adorable thing about this bird is the melodic and rich songs it sings.  

How do they communicate?

Blue mockingbirds communicate via complicated but melodic songs and notes. They utter a rich 'wee-cheep', 'chuk', or 'wheep' call.

How big is a blue mockingbird?

A blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) is 9.5-10.5 in (24-27 cm) long and has a wingspan of 13-15.5 in (33-39 cm), which makes it four to seven times bigger than the bee hummingbird.

How fast can a blue mockingbird fly?

The blue mockingbird flying speed for shorter distances is about 25 mph (40 kph).

How much does a blue mockingbird weigh?

Blue mockingbirds weigh around 1.8-2.1 oz (50-60 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The female and male blue mockingbirds aren't referred to with specific names but may be called hen and cock respectively, like any other bird.

What would you call a baby blue mockingbird?

Blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) babies would be called chicks.

What do they eat?

The blue mockingbird is an omnivore who feeds on insects, fruits, spiders, and berries.

Are they poisonous?

No, blue mockingbirds are not poisonous.

Would they make a good pet?

No, blue mockingbirds would not make good pets. This bird is known to be sold in small caged houses in Mexico but it is not a good practice. It is a wild bird species, whose population trend is estimated to be declining, so they should not be adopted as pets.

Did you know...

Blue mockingbirds are related to the Northern mockingbird, also one of the magnificent birds of the world. The Northern mockingbird also belongs to the family Mimidae. Despite being from the same family, the genus for both these species is different, the blue mockingbird comes from Melatonis and the Northern mockingbird from Mimus. The only other bird to belong to the Melatonis genus is the blue-and-white mockingbird. All Mockingbirds belong to the Passeriformes order.

The blue mockingbirds that may have occurred as a vagrant further north from Mexico, in America, in Texas, Western and Southern New Mexico, Southern California, and Arizona and are most probably birds that have flown from captivity. Although the native Mexico range ends about a hundred miles away from Southern and Eastern Arizona and Southern Texas, so in these two regions, vagrants may be seen.

The blue mockingbird has two recognized subspecies, M. c. caerulescens, and M. c. longirostris. The M. c. longirostris is restricted to the Tres Marías Islands, and the M. c. caerulescens subspecies inhabits western Mexico pine-oak zones.

Another beautiful bird, native to the Mexico region is the Inca dove, also called the Mexican Dove.

Seeing a Mockingbird in your dreams or visions may symbolize playfulness, calmness, communication, innocence, and unity. Seeing a Mockingbird means positive outcomes are coming your way.

The only reason Mockingbirds can become aggressive is protecting their nests and young ones during the breeding season. Outside the breeding season, they are not very aggressive. They are not known for fatally injuring other birds. Mockingbirds can remember humans who they feel have threatened their nests, and may dive and swoop on them but are not known to cause significant injury.

Are blue jays and blue mockingbirds the same?

No, blue jays and blue mockingbirds are not the same. When discussing the blue jay vs mockingbird, blue jays are endemic to the eastern and central parts of the USA, whereas the blue mockingbirds mostly inhabit Mexico. Blue mockingbirds are blue all over, with blue backs and blue and underparts, but the blue jays have white bellies and a lighter shade of blue on their backs. Blue jays also have black eyes, whereas the blue mockingbirds have red or reddish eyes. Blue jays have black stripes on their bodies which the blue mockingbirds don't. Blue jays have a liking for peanuts which the blue mockingbirds don't. Unlike the blue jay, the mockingbird does not rob the nests of other birds. Blue jays come from the Corvidae family, and blue mockingbirds come from the Mimidae family.

What is so special about a mockingbird?

A special thing about mockingbirds is that they are capable of recognizing specific humans. Mockingbirds are also known for being capable of imitating the sounds and calls of close to 35 different types of birds. Mockingbirds may learn to sing or 'mock' up to 200 songs over their lifespan. It is the male who sings more songs. The reasons for this may be to attract more female companions or to give other birds the illusion of there being many birds in a territory so that they don't move in.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our palm warbler interesting facts and blue tit fun facts pages.

You can occupy yourself at home by coloring in our free printable blue mockingbird coloring pages.