mockingbird

noun

mock·​ing·​bird ˈmä-kiŋ-ˌbərd 

ˈmȯ-

: a common grayish North American bird (Mimus polyglottos) related to the thrashers that is remarkable for its exact imitations of the notes of other birds

Examples of mockingbird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Blue jays, chickadees, crows, and mockingbirds are all examples of birds that will engage in a predator pile-on. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024

Any minute now, the mockingbird will trill at me to go to bed. —Edan Lepucki, The Atlantic, 12 July 2024

Male Northern mockingbirds will sing all day and night when searching for a mate. —Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024

Modern-day birds like the northern mockingbird and the greater roadrunner use their feathers to forage for food. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mockingbird

noun

mock·​ing·​bird ˈmäk-iŋ-ˌbərd 

ˈmȯk-

: a common grayish North American songbird that is closely related to the catbirds and thrashers and is noted for the sweetness of its song and for its imitations of the notes of other birds