How long do mockingbirds live?
The oldest Northern Mockingbird on record lived to 20 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild mockingbirds live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 20 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–6 eggs
- Broods per year
- 2–3 per season
- Size
- 8.3–10.2 in, 1.6–2 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 5
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Northern Mockingbird can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Mockingbirds usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–6 eggs and raises 2–3 per season, with eggs taking 12–13 days to hatch.
How mockingbirds compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other mockingbirds and thrashers on this site.
- Gray Catbird17.9 years
- Brown Thrasher12.8 years
- Curve-billed Thrasher10.8 years
- California Thrasher6.9 years
More about mockingbirds
Frequently asked
How long do mockingbirds live?
The longest-lived Northern Mockingbird on record reached 20 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild mockingbirds live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Northern Mockingbird when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Northern Mockingbird ever recorded?
20 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Northern Mockingbird raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–6 eggs and raise 2–3 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info