Northern Mockingbirds in Colorado
When mockingbirds are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- March–August
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect mockingbirds in Colorado
Northern Mockingbirds are summer residents in Colorado, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, grasshoppers and ants.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, mockingbirds typically nest from March–August. Nest site: twig cup in shrubs and small trees 3–10 ft up. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 12–13 days, and young leave the nest after 12–13 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Northern Mockingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, virginia creeper, pin cherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Colorado plants that attract mockingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover mockingbirds use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Feeding mockingbirds through the Colorado year
Mockingbirds defend fruiting shrubs from other birds all winter; plant several berry bushes to spread them out.
- Best foods: Suet, Fruit, Mealworms.
- In Colorado's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for mockingbirds · Best feeder for mockingbirds
Frequently asked
Are mockingbirds in Colorado year-round?
No. Northern Mockingbirds are summer breeders in Colorado and leave for the winter.
When do mockingbirds nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs March–August, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.
What native plants attract mockingbirds in Colorado?
Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for mockingbirds.
Northern Mockingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Northern Mockingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Mockingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Northern Mockingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.