Officially it is known as the Northern Mockingbird, but everyone, birders included, just calls it the Mockingbird. Mockingbirds are all-grey birds, darker above than below with a long tail and wings that show flashes of white in flight. It looks similar to a Northern Shrike or the very rare Townsends Solitaire or maybe the Gray Catbird but you are unlikely to confuse it with these species.

Unlike most birds which only set up a summer (breeding) territory, the Mockingbird also establishes a winter territory. Although a pair of Mockingbirds will occasionally share a winter territory together, in most cases each Mockingbird will drive away any other Mockingbird from its territory.

Mockingbirds feed almost exclusively on berries during the winter. Knowing this, you can probably conclude that the best way to see a Mockingbird in your yard is to plant berry bushes that hold their berries all winter long. If you already have such bushes, watch carefully for a Mockingbird, as when they are in the bush they are often very well concealed. They are best seen when they are on their guarding posts. Guarding posts are spots that are used over and over by the Mockingbird as they provide a good view of its domain. The purpose of the Mockingbird's vigil is to protect its berries so it has a better chance of surviving the winter. Should another berry-eating bird show interest in the Mockingbird's berry patch, the Mockingbird will do everything in its power to chase the intruder away. See if you can observe the sequence of events involved in such an effort. Major steps include the Mockingbird warning the intruder with a harsh "check" note. If that warning is ignored the Mockingbird will try to dive bomb the intruder and then, if necessary, chase it.

You may want to try and take good care of your winter Mockingbird as in the summer they can be very entertaining. I know several people who have spent whole summers watching the fascinating behaviours of "their" Mockingbirds. Over the last thirty-five years, the Northern Mockingbird has shown a steady increase in its population in Nova Scotia.