SPGDCM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU (06/05/88)
MSG:FROM: SPGDCM --UCBCMSA TO: NETWORK --NETWORK 06/04/88 15:21:22
To: NETWORK --NETWORK Network Address
From: Doug Mosher
Subject: it's a mockingbird
To: rec-birds@ucbvax
I received a number of helpful replies about what my back-yard visitor
might be. They all agreed that it's likely to be a mockingbird.
Mockingbirds are apparently not uncommon in the bay area. I think
they are less common in populated SF areas such as mine, which may explain
why this seemed unfamiliar to me (for example, we have a busy market street
running in front, only about one large tree per 30 houses in back, and
until recently a lot of neighbors had cats).
The distinguishing characteristics (of the singing, since I could not
see the bird) included: loud calling, with a continually varying song
repeated a few times and then changed; singing at odd hours.
The chances are that it's an unmated male.
Now I'm curious as to what the function is for such imitative singing.
(One writer explained that this class of birds is termed "mimids".)
Certainly it seemed that the unmated bird might call to attract a mate;
lately he's been singing all night, actually. But wouldn't the
varied calls attract "the wrong kind"? (A lot of jokes occur to me
here).
Or does a potential mate mockingbird itself recognize the variety, and
respond in kind? It's a curious phenomenon to me.
( )
( Doug Mosher <SPGDCM@CMSA.Berkeley.edu> )
( 257 Evans, Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA, 415/642-5823 )
it's a mockingbird