Hobbies And Interests
Northern Mockingbirds
Northern mockingbirds, most commonly referred to simply as "mockingbirds," were almost wiped out in some parts of the United States because people caged them to enjoy their repertoire of songs. These birds learn their songs from other birds and continue to collect new songs throughout their lives. If they are not yet mated, male mockingbirds sing at night to attract a female's attention. Other motivations for their variety of songs include warning potential predators and calling to a mate during nesting. Female mockingbirds may use autumnal songs to help establish winter territories.
Blue Mockingbirds
Unlike the gray, dull-colored Northern variety, the Blue mockingbird is bright blue. As this species is rather shy, not much is known about its habits. Blue mockingbirds sing and vocalize, but don't copy the songs of other birds. Their song consists of any combination of "wee-cheep," "wheep" and "chuk." The exact reason for their song is not known.
Tropical Mockingbirds
Like the Northern mockingbird, the Tropical mockingbird sings during the day and night. Most often they sing from the tops of bushes during the morning hours. Male Tropicals will sing for extended periods of time while their nest is being built. This song could be to repel other birds and predators, as Tropical mockingbirds also resemble Northern mockingbirds in their fiercely protective aggression toward other animals during the nesting season.
Bahama Mockingbirds
Despite being a relatively recent addition to the Caribbean, mockingbirds are now common throughout the islands including the Bahamas, Jamaica and Cuba. Resembling the Northern mockingbird, they don't copy other birds' songs so don't develop the vast library of songs of their Northern cousins. Bahama mockingbirds mainly make sounds of "cheewee, chipwee, chipwoo, cheewoo" and may resemble its mockingbird cousins in using its song during mating and as a warning during nesting.