{"id":12536,"date":"2022-12-20T05:32:38","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T10:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=12536"},"modified":"2022-12-20T05:32:39","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T10:32:39","slug":"birds-that-look-like-mockingbirds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/birds-that-look-like-mockingbirds\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Birds That Look Like Mockingbirds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever wondered if that gray bird in your backyard is really a mockingbird? Could it be something else entirely? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll discuss several kinds of birds that look like mockingbirds and how you can tell them apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birds That Look Like Mockingbirds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Shrikes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"species<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two main species of shrike closely resemble mockingbirds: the loggerhead shrike and the northern shrike. Northern shrikes are found throughout much of North America and parts of Asia, while loggerhead shrikes are found primarily in the United States and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of these types of shrikes are slightly smaller than mockingbirds, though it would be hard to tell the difference unless you were comparing them side by side. What\u2019s more, shrikes have similar coloring to mockingbirds, making it easy to confuse them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both northern and loggerhead shrikes have a dark band across the head reaching back from each eye. Mockingbirds do not have this band.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shrikes also have darker markings on their wings and tails. While mockingbirds also have wings and tails that are darker than their bodies, the contrast is not as noticeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, both shrikes have larger heads in relation to their bodies than mockingbirds do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Gray Catbirds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Gray<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gray catbirds belong to the same family as mockingbirds. They are found throughout much of North America and parts of Central America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are slightly smaller than mockingbirds, but this size difference is so minimal it would be hard to notice unless you were comparing them side by side. Gray catbirds also have similar body and head shapes as mockingbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main difference between the two types of birds is their coloring. Mockingbirds are generally light gray with lighter undersides, while gray catbirds are consistently dark gray all over.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are close enough, you may also spot brownish undertail regions on the catbirds. Also, mockingbirds have yellow eyes, while catbirds have black eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Townsend\u2019s Solitaires<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Townsend\u2019s solitaires are found primarily throughout western North America. On first glance, these birds look remarkably similar to mockingbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are both nearly the same size, and both have lighter gray bodies with darker gray, striped wings and tails. Even their bodies are shaped similarly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, mockingbirds have mostly white undersides, while Towndsend\u2019s solitaires are gray all over. What\u2019s more, solitaires have large, black eyes with a striking white ring around them, while mockingbirds have slightly smaller, yellow eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Gray Flycatchers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Gray<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gray flycatchers are found throughout western North America. It is easy to confuse them with mockingbirds except for a couple of details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gray flycatchers have gray backs and heads with darker, striped feathers and tails; they also have white bellies. They share all of these characteristics with mockingbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, gray flycatchers are noticeably smaller than mockingbirds, at only five inches long. This makes them about half the size of mockingbirds, which usually grow to about 10 inches long.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, gray flycatchers have large black eyes surrounded by white rings, as opposed to the yellow eyes of mockingbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Lucy\u2019s Warbler<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lucy\u2019s warblers have a very small range in the southwestern United States and Mexico. From a distance, it is possible to confuse them with mockingbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Lucy’s warblers and mockingbirds are similarly colored, with pale gray backs and white underparts. That is where the similarity ends, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucy\u2019s warblers are tiny, only three to four inches long. They also tend to have more brownish feathers at their tails.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have dark eyes as well, which are often surrounded by a striking white ring. Again, mockingbirds have yellow eyes, so this is one good way to tell them apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Warbling Vireo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"warbling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The warbling vireo is found throughout much of North and Central America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pretty little songbird is very similar in appearance to the mockingbird: both birds have light gray backs and wings with white underparts. Their body shapes are also similar, and they are both known for singing loud, distinctive songs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, warbling vireos are much smaller than mockingbirds, topping out at around 4 to 5 inches long. They also have dark brown eyes which help to set them apart from mockingbirds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to the warbling vireo sing its song in the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i3PRxFpHnUw<\/a>