The Mockingbird can sing up to 200 songs. These include the songs of other birds, insects, amphibians, bells, sirens, and even mechanical sounds or a rusty gate.

While most birds learn their songs early in life, the mockingbird continues to add to its repertoire throughout its life.

Legend calls the mockingbird “the giver of language”; it taught all the other birds how to sing.

The Mockingbird is also called: The “Jazz Musician” of birds The “American Nightingale”

Mockingbirds are born with their eyes closed, weak, and helpless. At the age of about 12 days, the chicks venture from the nest and hop around on the ground. Parents still feed them up to 5 times per hour before they can fly. Parents will care for their young for many months before it sets out on its own.

Mockingbird nests can be found 1-50 feet above the ground in the fork of a tree or the branch of a bush. Both parents build the nest with items such as twigs, dry leaves, stems, cotton paper, grass and other handy materials, making the nest as tight as possible to protect the eggs.

The mockingbird is intensely territorial.

They are peaceful, non-violent birds except when threatened. To defend its nest and protect its young, a mockingbird will swoop down and snap its beak at any possible intruder, including other birds, dogs, cats, or humans. It may also use its song skills to imitate something that would scare away the trespasser such as a bird call, a cat’s screech, or a car alarm.

During the late 18 th century and throughout the 19 th century there was a strong market for caged mockingbirds. People wanted to “own” the incredible songs. By the early 20 th century, this demand resulted in the near extinction of mockingbird populations near Philadelphia, St. Louis, and other large cities.

In many states it is illegal to harm, harass, or remove the mockingbird from its nest.