I might not know why the caged bird sings, but I now know why the Mockingbird sings. This weekend, we had a Mockingbird move into the Bradford Pear tree in our front yard. He announced his residency around 10PM Friday night.
Frankly, I think he’s a bad neighbor, he is loud, he is obnoxious, and worst of all, he is nocturnal. When he decided to sing a serenade at 1AM, I was more than a little aggravated at him. And, somehow, I knew it was a him and not a her. I guess I assume all girls, regardless of species, know that at 1 o’clock in the morning you need to be sleeping, or at least have the common courtesy to keep quiet.
Since he wouldn’t let me sleep, I decided to do some quick Internet research on Mockingbirds. And you, you lucky devils, get to benefit from my midnight serenade. Now you, too, can wow your friends and relatives when you flaunt your knowledge of Mockingbirds at your next dinner party.
- The Mockingbird is the state bird for five different states: Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
- Both sexes sing in the fall to claim winter feeding territories. These areas are often different than their spring breeding territories.
- Mockingbirds mimic other bird’s songs. They have also been known to imitate other sounds they hear such as rusty hinges, whistling and dogs barking.
- Female mockingbirds often build a new nest while the males finish feeding older fledglings and teaching them to fly.
- Scientists have found that female mockingbirds are attracted to males that can make the most different sounds.
- Unmated male mockingbirds sing more than mated ones, and only unmated males sing at night. I guess my new neighbor was desperately seeking a date, because he sang all stinking night.
So now you know all you’ve ever wanted to know about Mockingbirds, and then some.
Ok, sorry but you opened the door on this one;
Unmated male mockingbirds sing more than mated ones
I think that one is quite obvious. Once he finds a mate he can’t get a word (song?) in edgewise.
Love it! These are my favorite birds. I have actually sat outside and “talked” with one making all sorts of noises and he tried to out-do me every time I made a noise! It was so funny. My kids loved it. We whistled, chirped, and tweeted to each other for at least thirty minutes!
That was in Houston, by the way – we were visiting some relatives and I had to sit outside their house in the car for a while.
Another neat thing that Mockingbirds do is flare their wings in a robotic pattern to show the white stripes as they walk along the ground. It is probably something to do with mating season? I have no idea, but if you haven’t seen them do it – it is a hoot!