Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnewsd!jlevy
From: jlevy@cbnewsd.att.com (janet.levy)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Northern Mockingbird (I think)
Keywords: Beginner/Help/Identify
Message-ID: <1990May30.224659.24948@cbnewsd.att.com>
Date: 30 May 90 22:46:59 GMT
References: <976@soleil.UUCP> <832@fsu.scri.fsu.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 16

>In article <976@soleil.UUCP> mcaloon@soleil.UUCP (Barbara McAloon) writes:
>
>At times, I have opened the window and made my own sounds -- "cheep, cheep,
>birdeeee, birdeeee, birdeeee" and to my amazement, it repeats what I say.
>

I have tried this with mockingbirds when I am visiting in the Carolinas.
They really do try to copy your sounds moments after you produce
them.  It seems amazing to me since my experience with mimics is with
psitticines who often only learn to speak after a million repetitions.
By the way, I once had a pet starling who learned many bird songs and people
whistles.  He tried to do human speech, but only I knew what he was
saying.

Janet Levy
jsl@ihlpm.ATT.COM