Bird GuideMockingbirds and ThrashersBlue Mockingbird

Blue Mockingbird

Blue Mockingbird
Melanotis caerulescens
At a Glance Range & Identification Conservation Back to Top

At a Glance

Only distantly related to our Northern Mockingbird, the Blue Mockingbird is an elusive skulker of dense thickets. It has strayed north very rarely into southern Arizona, where some individuals have been known to linger for several months.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Mockingbirds and Thrashers, Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Desert and Arid Habitats, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Region
Southwest, Texas
Behavior
Direct Flight, Rapid Wingbeats

Range & Identification

Description

Sexes similar — Length: 9-10 in (23-25 cm); wingspan: 12-13 in (30-33 cm); weight: 1.6-2.0 oz (45-57 g). The Blue Mockingbird is dark slate or gray-blue all over, with a hint of blurry streaks. Note black mask, red eyes.
Size
About the size of a Robin
Color
Black, Blue, Red
Wing Shape
Broad
Tail Shape
Long, Rounded, Wedge-shaped

Songs and Calls

Complex song of varied notes, many melodic, but occasional harsh notes. Wide variety of calls. Does not mimic other birds’ songs.
Call Pattern
Falling, Rising
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Trill, Whistle

Conservation

Conservation Status

Change in Abundance Over Time
Drawing on more than a century of community science from the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), this chart shows how this species’ relative abundance has shifted in recent decades. Explore more and get involved in the CBC.