What is the State Bird of Mississippi? (And Why?)

Mississippi is the 32nd largest state in the United States by area and the 35th largest by population. Known for the Mississippi River, it is largely a mix of low hills and low plains geographically. Mississippi’s state animal is the white-tailed deer, but what is the state bird?

Mississippi has chosen the northern mockingbird (Mimus Polyglottos) as its state bird. On February 23, 1944, Mississippi made it the state bird. This leggy, medium-sized, long-tailed bird doesn’t need any encouragement to play its song. This bird tends to settle in southern states during the winter, but those that live in Mississippi usually do so year-round.

Mississippi’s state bird, the northern robin

Why is the northern robin the state bird of Mississippi?

Mississippi women chose this songbird at a state bird event sponsored by the Mississippi Women’s Federation in the early 1940s. Residents of the state chose the bird, and its legislature introduced legislation in the spring of 1944. One of the great entertainers, the bird sang to the inhabitants of the state day and night.

When did the northern robin become Mississippi’s state bird?

The Legislature passed a resolution naming the bird the official state bird of Mississippi, which became law on February 23, 1944. Unanimous Senate Resolution No. 3 declared the bird the official state bird.

northern robin complete song

What does Mississippi’s state bird look like?

Female mockingbirds are smaller than their male counterparts. Both sexes are otherwise similar to each other, with a gray chest and upper body and a contrasting but complementary light gray or white in the belly area. These birds have a brown beak base and a black body.

Although long and with a wide wingspan, these birds weigh very little. They usually grow to weigh between 1.75 ounces. Mockingbirds north of the Mississippi are typically 10 inches long from head to tail and have a 14-inch wingspan.

Keeping mockingbirds as pets is illegal in the United States because captivity can significantly shorten their lifespan. In the wild, a mockingbird can live to be 80 years old, but in captivity they only live a quarter of that. Title 16, United States Code, Sections 703 and 707a make it a crime to “at any time or in any way pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to capture, capture or kill, possess … any migratory bird … …or any part, nest or egg of any such bird. “

northern robin perched on a tree

How are these birds behaving?

People misunderstood the mockingbird’s song. Often, when surveyed, people think the bird will only copy other people’s songs, but in reality, only ten percent of their repertoire is. While mockingbirds can imitate the songs of other birds, clever birds can also compose original music. Since the average mockingbird plays more than 200 melodies, that means about 20 of its repertoire comes from other birds, and another 180, the bird wrote, so to speak. These studious birds also learn about other animals, including dogs, and human music, including instruments like the piano. The bird can also make city noises like sirens and gates. Mockingjay decides whether to make a song or not based on how many times the sound is repeated. If, after the imitation, the sound echoed through the bird, they would write an original melody based on it.

Unlike many birds that sing in the early morning, mockingbirds keep company with night owls. Mockingbirds sing at night. In spring, the birds like to give concerts under the moonlight.

You won’t hear the same mix from Mockingbird either. The birds string together a different playlist each day. This medley may only contain some or all of its repertoire. If you can’t see a mockingbird in action, you might mistake its song for another bird. Since each bird creates its own song, every bird’s medley is different.

Robin Dating. They meet potential mates through singing. They date several different birds until they meet the right one, and the birds choose a mate. You can think of it as a marriage, since the animals keep mating for life and are monogamous. Together they build nests out of twigs, grass, twigs and leaves. Once they have built their homes, the birds reproduce. They raise their young to follow the same pattern. In Mississippi, every 20-acre breeding area contains only one breeding pair of these birds.

A pair of northern robins fighting for territory

Do northern mockingbirds form communities?

Robins view their nests as their own and are very territorial. They protect their nests by swooping down to attack or at least drive away any predators. These birds view humans and their pets as predators.

Mockingbirds will attack animals much larger than themselves, including dogs and cats. As long as you stay away from their nests, you’ll be fine. Just enjoy their songs from a distance. A mockingbird remembers the people and animals it sees. Don’t piss anyone off, or you’ll be an enemy for life.

While some of these birds live in Mississippi full-time, others frequent Mexico or Canada. Mockingbirds typically prefer beach or marine environments, but in Mississippi you can also find them happily living in inland environments. These birds are also extremely rare in the UK.

Look for them in open areas of urban or rural environments. You won’t find them in the forest. Northern mockingbirds like to live in the same habitat year-round, so they don’t fly farther south if the area stays warm.

Their babies reach sexual maturity at one year old. When this happens, they find a mate and begin mating. These birds nest twice a year, sometimes more often if conditions are right.

Northern robin eating berries in a bush

What do northern robins in Mississippi eat?

Mockingbirds like beetles, ants, wasps and grasshoppers in northern Mississippi. Although the bird lives in many states, its diet varies by location and season. These birds also eat berries and love loose suet if you want to paint it in your yard. Mississippi mockingbirds don’t like hanging suet, but they will burrow into loose suet.

For a complete guide to the robin diet, check out this article.