To See A Mockingbird; Rare Vagrant Spotted In The UK

There have been 4 prior sightings of a northern mockingbird in the UK, but only 2 of these were accepted on to the British List.

In 1971 a northern mockingbird was reported at Blakeney Point, Norfolk. It spent much of its time in a tree lupin shrub by the lighthouse, which gave it protection against predatory gulls, occasionally visiting the plantation or laboratory. The bird appeared to be a juvenile and had very tattered plumage with feathers missing forming a bald patch just above its bill. This suggested that the bird had been held in captivity and was therefore not included on the British List.

7 years later on Worm’s Head, an island owned by the National Trust, near Gower, West Glamorgan, a second bird turned up in July 1978. The bird was observed and photographed by several bird watchers holidaying in the area at the time and is reported to have stayed for at least 6 weeks. However, it could not be determined how the bird had arrived and despite a majority of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) voting for it to be placed in Category A, under the rules of the Committee it was designated to languish forever in Category D.

In May 1982 a northern mockingbird paid a visit to Saltash, Cornwall during a strong gale, before it was chased off by magpies. By that time, due to changes in the law, captive Northern mockingbirds were much rarer. A couple of other unusual visitors, including the black-billed cuckoo and the Tennessee warbler, had also been spotted in the vicinity so this bird was treated as a genuine vagrant and assigned to category A.

The last visit was in May 1988, when a northern mockingbird made its way to Hornsey Island, Essex, perhaps travelling some of the way by boat to the nearby port of Felixstowe. As the bird was on private land where valuable racehorses were kept only ten bird watchers were allowed to observe the bird. 7 years later, Simon Cox, who documented the sighting, still felt ‘resentment and disappointment’ that the presence of the bird was concealed – a ‘suppression’ in twitching terms – which gives some insight into the mind of a twitcher. This bird was also admitted to category A.

Outstanding mimics

There are about 17 species of mockingbird found around the world mainly in South America and the Caribbean. The northern mockingbird is the only species commonly found in North America and is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. It is a medium-sized songbird, with a small head, short, rounded wings, and a long tail. It has grey-brown plumage which is paler underneath and two distinctive white bars on each wing. The bill is black and has a slight downwards curve.

Mockingbirds sing almost continuously, day and night, perched in tall trees, or on poles and telephone wires, and are famous for their mimicry. Indeed, its scientific name Mimus polyglottos can be translated as ‘mimic of many tongues’. Species it mimics include the Carolina wren, northern cardinal, tufted titmouse, eastern towhee, house sparrow, wood thrush, eastern bluebird, blue jay, American robin, and great crested flycatcher. It will also imitate other animals including cats, dogs, frogs, crickets, and anthropological noises such as car alarms, phones, and squeaky signs.

It adds to its repertoire over the course of its life and is capable of learning as many as 200 songs. This ability is thought to play a part in sexual selection driven by female preference. Although both male and female mockingbirds sing, the female is much quieter and less vocal, and unpaired males tend to sing more, particularly during the night. If a female mockingbird is attracted by a male’s singing ability then males will add to their repertoire to outdo their rivals. A large variety of songs also indicates that a male is older and has better survival skills, both positive traits to pass on to his offspring.

Some researchers have suggested that mockingbirds may use other species songs to warn those species to stay away from their territory but there is little evidence to support this. And although we may be fooled by the mockingbird’s copycat singing, other birds aren’t so convinced.

Caged songbirds

In the 18th and 19th centuries, mockingbirds, like many songbirds, were prized for their musical ability and were kept in cages. At least 4 U.S. presidents – Thomas Jefferson, Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover Cleveland and Calvin Coolidge – kept mockingbirds, or mockers, as pets.

Jefferson’s favourite mockingbird, Dick, lived in a cage in a window recess of the presidential cabinet amongst plant stands full of roses and geraniums. He would allow it to fly around the room before it would land on a table and serenade him. He was particularly fond of Dick, “not only for its melodious powers, but for its uncommon intelligence and affectionate disposition, of which qualities he gave surprising instances.”

Jefferson paid about ten dollars for his mockingbirds but by the early 1800s, the most talented singers were changing hands for $50. By then the caged mockingbirds were so popular that chicks were being stolen from nests to satisfy the demand. They were nearly driven to local extinction in some cities including Philadelphia, Chicago and New York, until conservation laws were brought in at the beginning of the 20th century.

Since then, it has thrived and moved further north, adapting particularly well to urban environments, where it can be seen hopping across lawns in search of insects. However, mockingbirds can be very aggressive particularly when defending their nests and will harass and chase away anything it perceives as a threat, including humans. They will also take on cats, raccoons, hawks, snakes, jaws, crows, and even snakes as depicted in this plate from John James Audubon’s The Birds Of America.

“Different species of snakes ascend to their nests, and generally suck the eggs or swallow the young; but on all such occasions, not only the pair to which the nest belongs, but many other Mocking-birds from the vicinity, fly to the spot, attack the reptiles, and, in some cases, are so fortunate as either to force them to retreat, or deprive them of life. Cats that have abandoned the houses to prowl about the fields, in a half wild state, are also dangerous enemies, as they frequently approach the nest unnoticed, and at a pounce secure the mother, or at least destroy the eggs or young, and overturn the nest. Children seldom destroy the nests of these birds, and the planters generally protect them. So much does this feeling prevail throughout Louisiana, that they will not willingly permit a Mocking-bird to be shot at any time.”

In 2009, a study found that an urban population of mockingbirds could recognise people. The birds would ignore most passers-by but would start screeching alarm calls and dive-bombing anyone who had previously approached their nests. It took just two encounters for the mockingbirds to show recognise individuals and was the first published research to show wild animals in their natural setting recognising individuals of other species, a skill rare amongst birds. Pigeons, for example, need extensive training before they obtain the ability.