The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is known for its remarkable ability to mimic the songs and calls of other birds. This medium-sized songbird with gray and white plumage is able to produce a wide variety of vocalizations beyond just mimicking other species. Here is an overview of the different types of noises Northern Mockingbirds can make:
Songs
The Northern Mockingbird has a varied song repertoire that averages around 150 phrases. Males do most of the singing, especially when attracting a mate or defending territory during breeding season. Their songs are often described as having a rhythmic or musical quality, with notes repeated multiple times or strung together in a series. Some mockingbird songs consist of melodious warbling while others are more harsh and mechanical. The males may sing almost continuously for hours, even through the night during a full moon.
Mimicry
A key feature of many Northern Mockingbird songs is the ability to mimic vocalizations of other species. Mockingbirds have keen listening skills and can pick up on sounds in their environment, incorporating them into their own vocalizations. Some of the species they commonly imitate include:
- Blue Jay
- Northern Cardinal
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- American Robin
- House Sparrow
- Northern Flicker
- European Starling
Mockingbirds may mimic other birds, insects, amphibians, or even artificial sounds like car alarms within their repertoire. The mimicked songs and calls are often strung together rapidly and seamlessly interspersed with the mockingbird’s own notes and phrases. This ability likely evolved to help defending territories and attracting mates.
Calls
In addition to complex songs, Northern Mockingbirds have a variety of simpler vocalizations used to communicate specific messages. These include both calls and non-vocal mechanical sounds produced by actions like wing-flapping.
Alarm Calls
When alerting others to danger, Northern Mockingbirds may make a harsh, rasping call described as a “scree.” They often emit these alarm calls when warning of predators or mobbing potential threats that encroach on their territory. The alarm call puts other birds in the area on alert and may bring in additional species to mob the intruder.
Begging Calls
During the breeding season, nestlings in the nest beg for food from their parents with high-pitched, squeaky calls. These repetitive begging calls stimulate the adult Northern Mockingbirds to gather food and return to the nest to feed the hungry young.
Flight Calls
Northern Mockingbirds in flight may make short, sharp “check” or “pit” calls. These flight calls are thought to maintain communication between pair members when they are traversing their territory. Different flight call variations may be used in specific circumstances.
Mechanical Sounds
In addition to vocalizations, Northern Mockingbirds can produce non-vocal sounds for communication using actions like wing-flapping. Rapid fluttering or flicking of their wings makes a abrupt rattling or whirring sound. They often use these mechanical sounds during threat displays or territorial interactions with other birds.
When Do They Vocalize?
Northern Mockingbirds vocalize the most during the breeding season from spring through early summer. The increase in singing, especially in males, serves to define territories and attract potential mates. Males sing almost constantly throughout the day and night during this period. Songs and calls are also used frequently to communicate between pair members while nesting and to signal alarms.
Northern Mockingbirds still vocalize year-round but the frequency drops off after breeding season. Baseline vocalizations continue in order to maintain territories and contact with a mate. Molting in late summer may temporarily lower vocalization frequency. Mockingbirds in more tropical climates may breed multiple times a year and thus have more prolonged seasonal peaks in singing activity.
Why Do They Make These Noises?
Northern Mockingbirds are renowned for their diverse vocal repertoire, but each sound actually serves an important communicative function:
- Songs – Used primarily by males in the breeding season to define territories and attract females.
- Mimicry – Mimicking other species helps expand their song repertoire which may make males seem more fit to females and more threatening to competing males.
- Alarm calls – Screechy alarm calls alert others to threats and facilitate mobbing of predators.
- Begging calls – Nestling begging calls signal hunger and prompt adults to gather food.
- Flight calls – Short flight calls allow pair members to maintain contact over distances.
- Mechanical sounds – Non-vocal wing sounds assert dominance and territorial boundaries.
Mockingbird Song Interpretation
Northern Mockingbird songs and calls create intricate communication systems. Some key interpretations of their vocalizations include:
Longer, More Complex Songs
Males that sing longer songs with larger repertoires are often interpreted by females as being higher quality mates. These complex songs demonstrate their fitness, abilities, territory ownership, and desire to breed.
Threat Displays
When perceiving a threat, mockingbirds shift to making harsh, repetitive screeching alarm calls. This mobilizes a defensive mobbing response from other birds. Mechanical wing sounds further emphasize aggression during these encounters.
Pair Bonding
Northern Mockingbirds often form long-term pair bonds that can persist across multiple breeding seasons. Duets, flight calls, and cooperative mobbing help maintain the pair bond when they are interacting outside of breeding.
Status Signaling
Specific variations of mockingbird songs and calls correlate with signals about the age, sex, and territorial status of individuals. Adults and juveniles have distinct vocalizations, for example, that communicate their readiness to breed.
Mate Attraction
Male Northern Mockingbirds elevate their song rates during breeding seasons and even sing through the night when trying to attract a female mate. Mimicked songs interspersed may indicate local experience and survival abilities.
How Do Northern Mockingbirds Make These Noises?
Northern Mockingbirds produce sounds using specialized vocal organ anatomy:
- A bifurcated syrinx organ allows them to make two sounds at once.
- Vibrating membranes called tympaniform membranes produce the melody.
- Adjusting tension on the membranes through muscles causes pitch changes.
- Airflow through the syrinx is controlled during breathing to generate sound.
- Vocal tract filtering further shapes the quality and resonance.
They can control these anatomical features with precision to mimic a remarkable diversity of sounds. Additionally, their innate vocal learning skills allow them to accurately replicate new sounds in their environment after hearing them only a few times.
How Do Mockingbird Songs Develop?
Young Northern Mockingbirds acquire songs through a combination of innate tendencies and vocal learning:
- Nestlings possess innate vocalizations like begging calls from hatching.
- Both males and females start vocal practice around 2 weeks after leaving the nest.
- They listen to adult mockingbird songs and mimic components, building vocal skills.
- Over their first year they continually expand their repertoire.
- By their second breeding season males have crystallized their mature songs.
Northern Mockingbirds appear to have preferences for learning songs of related species. However, they choose which phrases to imitate and how to combine elements from different models to create unique new mockingbird songs.
Signature Sounds
The Northern Mockingbird’s amazing vocal mimicry abilities have made it a species renowned for its song. Here are some of the bird’s signature song features:
- Rapid switching between different phrases
- Mimicry of other bird songs and calls
- Repeating short notes or motifs multiple times
- Cycling through a repertoire of 150+ song types
- Singing from exposed, elevated perches
- Long, loud song performances lasting hours
- Combining mimicry with original melodies and notes
- Adjusting songs seasonally with new mimicry phrases
These characteristics come together to produce the Northern Mockingbird’s famously complex vocalizations that other species simply cannot match.
Geographic Variation
There are four recognized subspecies of the Northern Mockingbird in different geographic regions:
| Subspecies | Range |
|---|---|
| Mimus polyglottos polyglottos | Eastern and southern USA, northeast Mexico |
| Mimus polyglottos leucopterus | Western USA to western Texas, northern Mexico |
| Mimus polyglottos orpheus | Southwestern Mexico, Central America |
| Mimus polyglottos californicus | Pacific coast region from British Columbia through Baja |
There are some subtle song differences between these mockingbird populations, but songs are still largely recognized between subspecies. For example, orpheus mockingbirds in Mexico and Central America have songs with slightly lower frequencies and narrower frequency ranges. But in general, Northern Mockingbird songs have consistent characteristics across their entire range.
Individual Variation
While Northern Mockingbird songs share patterns at the species level, there can be considerable variation between individuals:
- Repertoire sizes range from just a dozen songs to over 200 song types.
- Phrase order choices make each song sequence unique.
- Imitated species and mimicry quality differs based on experience.
- Local dialects develop among neighborhood groups.
- Song length and complexity indicates individual quality.
Juveniles also sound distinct from adults, lacking mimicry skills and having simpler vocalizations. So while mockingbird songs have clear species-level identifiers, individual and regional variations make each bird’s contribution unique.
Mockingbirds in Culture
The Northern Mockingbird’s vocal gifts have made it influential across many aspects of human culture:
- State bird of 5 US states including Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida.
- Features in the title and lyrics of the state song of Florida.
- Art and literature symbolizing unique American musical traditions.
- Native American legends highlighting song mimicry abilities.
- Popular imagery for creativity, individuality, intelligence, and musicality.
From literature to logos to legacies, the mockingbird’s variable yet iconic songs have profoundly shaped how humans engage with and interpret this species.
Conclusion
Northern Mockingbirds produce a wide array of songs, calls, and sounds that serve important communication functions. Male mockingbirds sing complex songs containing mimicry during breeding seasons to attract mates and defend territories. They also use calls like begging cries, flight calls, and alarm screams to facilitate essential behaviors. By studying mockingbirds, scientists gain insight into how vocal learning occurs in songbirds and how these abilities evolved. The mockingbird’s remarkable vocal skills continue to captivate and inspire humans across cultures.
