I'm not an avid birdwatcher, but I do enjoy observing them on my daily morning walk. One bird I can always count on seeing is the Northern mockingbird (the state bird of Texas), identifiable by its long tail, distinct light grey color, and bold, fearless behavior (I've seen them chasing after hawks on multiple occasions!). While this little bird doesn't have a unique song since it mimics other birds, it does have a singing pattern all its own, and I can always recognize the Northern mockingbird in Texas whenever I step outside.

If you live in Texas, there's a good chance you've seen these little guys milling about. They're Northern mockingbirds - our official state bird (along with Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee) - and they are abundant all throughout the state.

Northern mockingbirds exist year-round in the states that are shaded green, which includes most of Texas. Their breeding range extends farther north.

The scientific name for the Northern mockingbird is Mimus polyglottos, which translates to "many-tongued mimic." This refers to the bird's ability to mimic a variety of other birds such as the Carolina wren, the American robin, and the Northern cardinal.

Mockingbirds possess anywhere from around 40 to 200 individual songs. Scientists have identified four distinct calls used by the Northern mockingbird: the nest relief call, hew call, chat or chatburst, and the begging call. The first and last of these calls are used only by males, but the other two can be heard from both sexes.

The mockingbird's mimicry is thought to be used primarily for mating purposes.

Since the Northern mockingbird mimics the calls of other birds, it can't be identified by its song, but rather by tone and patterns.

The birds sing in phrases, which they repeat several times before switching to a new one. Each song lasts at least 20 seconds and sounds like high-pitched whistling.

What's even more interesting is that Northern mockingbirds can also mimic other sounds, including dog barks, sirens, and even musical instruments.

So next time you think you hear a pooch in your neighborhood that just won't stop yapping, it just might be our state bird instead!

Check out this YouTube video by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to hear the magnificent, sing-song voice of the Northern mockingbird for yourself:

Have you ever seen a Northern mockingbird in Texas? What do you think about their songs? Tell us in the comments! Check out REI for a great selection of binoculars if you're interested in birdwatching. For more things to love about Texas, give our previous article a read below (and prepare for all of the feels!).

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/texas/best-state-tx/