Female Mockingbirds (Male vs Female Identification Guide)

Male mockingbirds are known for their melodious nocturnal calls and aggressive behavior towards any intruders who enter their territory. But is the same for female robins?

Read our guide to female mockingbirds to learn more about whether these behaviors are unique to males, or whether female mockingbirds are just as melodious (and just as aggressive!)

How do you know if a mockingbird is male or female?

Male and female northern mockingbirds are similar in color and markings, and the only way to tell them apart is to observe behavior closely, especially during breeding and nesting periods.

Singing is another giveaway, as male mockingbirds are known for their rich melodic repertoire, while female mockingbirds are usually quieter and don’t sing at night.

Females are side by side slightly smaller than males, but from a distance, or when observing a solitary bird, appearance alone is not always enough to tell the difference between the sexes.

There is no visual way to distinguish male and female northern robins, instead observing behavior is one of the best ways

What does a female robin look like?

The plumage of female mockingbirds comes in various shades of gray. Their lower parts are light gray, with the chest and face turning almost white. Their heads and rump are dark gray-brown, darkening to almost black at the edges of the wings and tail.

Their wings have two parallel white stripes that connect to a distinctive white patch. The edges of these marks are only visible when the wings are folded.

Female mockingbirds have gray-green legs and yellow-green eyes. Their black beaks are straight with a brownish base.

Female mockingbirds have the same plumage as males

Are female robins bigger than males?

Unlike many other birds, female mockingbirds are actually slightly smaller than male mockingbirds, measuring 20.8 to 23.5 cm (8.2 to 9.3 in) long and weighing about 47 g (1.7 oz). Males can grow up to 2 cm (0.8 in) long and weigh 4 g (0.2 oz).

behavioral difference

Behavior is a key way of distinguishing male and female mockingbirds. Male mockingbirds display particularly distinctive mating and courtship behaviors, while female mockingbirds take on a more passive, observing role.

Males perform violent flight displays accompanied by loud and raucous songs. Their energetic courtship flights may have had the added purpose of showing off potential nesting sites to impress potential mates.

Females may fly around the territory with the males, but will not participate in their own show-offs.

Male mockingbirds are notoriously territorial, giving aggressive and noisy warnings of anything that threatens their nest or young.

Female mockingbirds are also very territorial and will loudly defend their nest and territory from other female mockingbirds, while male mockingbirds are often responsible for driving off intruding males.

Mockingbirds foraging in the park

sing and call

Mockingbirds are known for their wonderful and impressive singing talents, with their high-pitched, melodious chorus and ability to imitate a variety of other sounds. While males are credited for their louder, longer-lasting musical performances, females also sing, but are noticeably quieter and less vocal.

Female mockingbirds are more likely to be heard in winter and spring and tend not to sing when male mockingbirds are nearby.

nesting and feeding

Nest building is a shared duty, with the male doing most of the building work, while the female can assist in gathering materials and weaving some twigs into a cup-shaped nest.

The female mockingbird’s primary role during nesting is to watch nearby perches and sound the alarm when predators approach. Males can prepare three different nests at the start of the breeding season, and these can be used for subsequent broods, or if the initial brood fails.

After the eggs are laid, the females hatch them. While the eggs are incubating, the female continues to leave the nest periodically to feed. The male does not bring her food during this time, so she remains independent and leaves her eggs unattended for short periods of time.

After the eggs hatch, the female incubates the chicks for at least part of the day and up to 6 days. Both males and females bring food to the chicks, and the tasks are fairly evenly divided between the sexes.

For fledgling mockingbirds, initial support away from the nest is provided by both the male and female parents. Before long, however, the male may leave the site for a day or two while building the nest for the next brood.

The females may then leave to focus on laying eggs and hatching the next brood, while chick care falls to the males until they gain independence after up to three weeks.

northern robin in flight

Can a female robin raise her young alone?

During the incubation period, the female mockingbird does periodically leave the eggs unattended to feed. After the chicks hatch, the female continues to brood, but also leaves the nest to find food for herself and her offspring.

In theory, females can raise offspring alone. However, successfully raising the pups until they become independent is certainly not a guaranteed prospect if there are no males nearby to warn the pups and the nest of threats.

What color are female robins?

The plumage of female mockingbirds comes in various shades of gray. They have a pale grayish-white chest, dark gray head and rump, and charcoal gray-black wings and tail.

Closeup shot of a robin with a worm in its beak

Can a female robin sing?

Female mockingbirds do call, although they are not as loud or vocal as male mockingbirds. Males are known for their extensive imitations and melodic playlists, and while females can sing too, they’re often less likely to show off their skills on such an outlandish scale.

Why do female robins sing?

Female mockingbirds are less vocal than males, but in some cases they can be especially loud, especially when establishing their winter territories in the fall. Females also make what are called calls when predators approach their nests.