I listened to Richard's breathing next to me, and heard Molly mutter in her sleep in the next room. I drifted back to sleep as the songster launched without a pause into a black-throated sparrow's sweet trill.
Male mockingbirds are among the world's most accomplished vocal copyists.
Mockingbird's songs even include mechanical noises such as the squeak of a wheelbarrow, sirens, or car alarms. Male mockingbirds exercise their vocal artistry most during the early spring and summer mating seasons. The more extensive his vocal repertoire, the better chance a male mockingbird has of mimicking and driving away other birds, thereby gaining a larger share of habitat, and more access to the female listening audience. They also devour berries and fruits, especially red fruits, like fiery chiltepines, native chile peppers. Unfortunately, human habitat can be deadly - lawn and garden pesticides often poison these charming mimics.