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Mimidae - Mockingbirds, Thrashers, Catbirds

The Mimidae family has 35 extant (living) species. They are found across North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and the Galápagos Islands. The family includes mockingbirds, thrashers, catbirds, and tremblers.

Birds in this family are known for their varied vocalizations. Some species, such as the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), can mimic the calls of other birds and sounds they hear, including cats, machinery, and car alarms.

Most species are medium-sized, generally measuring about 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) in length. They are usually gray, brown, or a combination of these colors, although some have more colorful plumage. They typically have long legs, short rounded wings, and long tails, with small to medium-sized bills. Males and females often look similar.

Many species forage on or near the ground, searching for insects and other invertebrates, seeds, fruits, and berries. Their diets vary among species and may change with the season.

  • The Scaly-breasted Thrasher is found in the Caribbean in Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Scaly-breasted Thrasher
    (Allenia fusca)
    The Scaly-breasted Thrasher is found in the Caribbean in Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Gray Trembler is found in Martinique and Saint Lucia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Trembler
    (Cinclocerthia gutturalis)
    The Gray Trembler is found in Martinique and Saint Lucia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Brown Trembler is found in the Caribbean in Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sint Maarten. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brown Trembler
    (Cinclocerthia ruficauda)
    The Brown Trembler is found in the Caribbean in Antigua and Barbuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sint Maarten. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Gray Catbird is found across much of the U.S., except for the western and southwestern U.S. and Alaska and Hawaii. It is also found in southern Canada, eastern Mexico, most of Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean. The gray catbird breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Catbird
    (Dumetella carolinensis)
    The Gray Catbird is found across much of the U.S., except for the western and southwestern U.S. and Alaska and Hawaii. It is also found in southern Canada, eastern Mexico, most of Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean. The gray catbird breeds in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Pearly-eyed Thrasher Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as several other Caribbean islands, including the Lesser Antilles. It also occurs on some islands off the coast of Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pearly-eyed Thrasher
    (Margarops fuscatus)
    The Pearly-eyed Thrasher Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as several other Caribbean islands, including the Lesser Antilles. It also occurs on some islands off the coast of Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Black Catbird is found in Belize and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status:Near Threatened IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black Catbird
    (Melanoptila glabrirostris)
    The Black Catbird is found in Belize and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status:Near Threatened IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Blue Mockingbird is found in Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Blue Mockingbird
    (Melanotis caerulescens)
    The Blue Mockingbird is found in Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Blue-and-white Mockingbird is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Blue-and-white Mockingbird
    (Melanotis hypoleucus)
    The Blue-and-white Mockingbird is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Brown-backed Mockingbird is found in Argentina and Bolivia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brown-backed Mockingbird
    (Mimus dorsalis)
    The Brown-backed Mockingbird is found in Argentina and Bolivia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Tropical Mockingbird is found in Central America, northern and eastern South America, and the Caribbean. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Tropical Mockingbird
    (Mimus gilvus)
    The Tropical Mockingbird is found in Central America, northern and eastern South America, and the Caribbean. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Socorro Mockingbird is found on Socorro Island, off the western coast of Mexico. It is found nowhere else in the world. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Socorro Mockingbird
    (Mimus graysoni)
    The Socorro Mockingbird is found on Socorro Island, off the western coast of Mexico. It is found nowhere else in the world. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The Bahama Mockingbird is found in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Bahama Mockingbird
    (Mimus gundlachii)
    The Bahama Mockingbird is found in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Long-tailed Mockingbird is found in Ecuador and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Long-tailed Mockingbird
    (Mimus longicaudatus)
    The Long-tailed Mockingbird is found in Ecuador and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Espanola Mockingbird is found in Ecuador. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Espanola Mockingbird
    (Mimus macdonaldi)
    The Espanola Mockingbird is found in Ecuador. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The San Cristobal Mockingbird is found in Ecuador. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    San Cristobal Mockingbird
    (Mimus melanotis)
    The San Cristobal Mockingbird is found in Ecuador. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The Galapagos Mockingbird is found in the Galapagos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Galapagos Mockingbird
    (Mimus parvulus)
    The Galapagos Mockingbird is found in the Galapagos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Patagonian Mockingbird is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Patagonian Mockingbird
    (Mimus patagonicus)
    The Patagonian Mockingbird is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Northern Mockingbird is found in most of the continental United States south to Mexico. It is also found in the Caribbean. The Northern Mockingbird is found year-round in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Northern Mockingbird
    (Mimus polyglottos)
    The Northern Mockingbird is found in most of the continental United States south to Mexico. It is also found in the Caribbean. The Northern Mockingbird is found year-round in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Chalk-browed Mockingbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Chalk-browed Mockingbird
    (Mimus saturninus)
    The Chalk-browed Mockingbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Chilean Mockingbird is found in Argentina and Chile. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Chilean Mockingbird
    (Mimus thenca)
    The Chilean Mockingbird is found in Argentina and Chile. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Floreana Mockingbird is found in the Galápagos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Floreana Mockingbird
    (Mimus trifasciatus)
    The Floreana Mockingbird is found in the Galápagos Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The White-banded Mockingbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-banded Mockingbird
    (Mimus triurus)
    The White-banded Mockingbird is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Sage Thrasher breeds from southern British Columbia east to southern Saskatchewan and south to California and New Mexico. It winters in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Sage Thrasher
    (Oreoscoptes montanus)
    The Sage Thrasher breeds from southern British Columbia east to southern Saskatchewan and south to California and New Mexico. It winters in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The White-breasted Thrasher is found in Martinique and Saint Lucia. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    White-breasted Thrasher
    (Ramphocinclus brachyurus)
    The White-breasted Thrasher is found in Martinique and Saint Lucia. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • Bendire's Thrasher is found in the south-west US and north-west Mexico, from Mojave desert in California east into southern Nevada, southern Utah and south-western Colorado south to central Sonora. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Bendire's Thrasher
    (Toxostoma bendirei)
    Bendire's Thrasher is found in the south-west US and north-west Mexico, from Mojave desert in California east into southern Nevada, southern Utah and south-western Colorado south to central Sonora. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The Gray Thrasher is found in Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Thrasher
    (Toxostoma cinereum)
    The Gray Thrasher is found in Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Crissal Thrasher is found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Crissal Thrasher
    (Toxostoma crissale)
    The Crissal Thrasher is found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Curve-billed Thrasher is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas in the United States; south through much of Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Curve-billed Thrasher
    (Toxostoma curvirostre)
    The Curve-billed Thrasher is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas in the United States; south through much of Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • LeConte's Thrasher is found in southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Arizona and western New Mexico in the United States and Baja California and northwestern Sonora in Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    LeConte's Thrasher
    (Toxostoma lecontei)
    LeConte's Thrasher is found in southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Arizona and western New Mexico in the United States and Baja California and northwestern Sonora in Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Long-billed Thrasher is found in southern Texas, primarily in the Rio Grande Valley, south through northeastern Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Long-billed Thrasher
    (Toxostoma longirostre)
    The Long-billed Thrasher is found in southern Texas, primarily in the Rio Grande Valley, south through northeastern Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Ocellated Thrasher is found in southern Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Ocellated Thrasher
    (Toxostoma ocellatum)
    The Ocellated Thrasher is found in southern Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The California Thrasher is found in California and northern Baja California, Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    California Thrasher
    (Toxostoma redivivum)
    The California Thrasher is found in California and northern Baja California, Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Brown Thrasher breeds from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States, and into northeastern Mexico. Many northern populations migrate south for winter, while birds farther south may remain year-round. The brown thrasher is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brown Thrasher
    (Toxostoma rufum)
    The Brown Thrasher breeds from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States, and into northeastern Mexico. Many northern populations migrate south for winter, while birds farther south may remain year-round. The brown thrasher is found across New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Tropical Mockingbird
The Tropical Mockingbird is a member of this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufumLeast ConcernNorth/Central America
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottosLeast ConcernNorth/Central America

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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