Have you ever wondered why mockingbirds mimic other birds? Scientists believe that mockingbirds imitate the calls of other birds to deter them from settling in their territory, by giving them the impression that the place is already crowded. It is said that a mockingbird is capable of mimicking over 200 songs. In addition to bird songs, the bird can replicate dog barks, sirens and other sounds in the environment.
Scientists aren’t sure about why mockingbirds mock, though. Gammon says that robins and cardinals don’t change their behavior when northern mockingbirds imitate their calls. Therefore, it seems unlikely that the mockingbirds are trying to manipulate other species through vocal mimicry.
An adult male mockingbird can emit up to 200 distinctive noises. You might be surprised to learn that these birds do have songs of their own, melodies that are not lifted from other avian species. Mockingbirds are most likely to imitate sounds — like titmouse cries, cardinal chirps, and yes, even car alarms — that are acoustically similar to the rhythm and pitch of their own voices. Nobody knows why that is.
Credit : How Stuff Works
Picture Credit : Google
