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How Nature Works: Catbird Mimicry

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Uploaded by on May 6, 2010

A remarkable Gray Catbird mimics dozens of bird species (and a frog too!) in northern California. Listen as Greg Budney, audio curator at the Macaulay Library, dissects the recording and notes each snippet of mimicked song.

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  • @thatxcrazyxkidxxx And my heart really hurts to hear this. Why not share? Why not listen to the beautiful song? One bird can't eat that many cherries...I'd be glad to share.

    Every year when the catbirds come back and start singing, my heart thrills with joy to hear them. ... Also, you should know it's illegal to shoot them. All native U.S. birds, of which the catbird is one, are protected by law. One is not supposed to have even a feather, let alone kill them.

  • @thatxcrazyxkidxxx How terribly sad! :-((  Tears.

  • Very well done. It was interesting to hear the comparisons. Many of them weren't exact almost as if they were interpreted. The frog mimic was the best.

  • This is fantastic!! Wow!!

  • They could just be learning the songs too because they want to.

  • She/he is a wonderful actor, love the Gray Catbird!

  • Walking at the edge of a forest in NY state near East Aurora, NY calling my cat, "here kitty, kitty, kitty!" After a short while I was listening again to see if I could hear the cat and I heard a little voice say, "kitty, kitty," then "Kitty." I was astounded and then I saw the grey cat bird hopping around in the bushes along the path. Pretty amazing !

  • Actually it sounds like a very average (typical) Catbird. They all mimic richly. They are all incredible.

  • I would think that all those other birds would think to themselves "oh this apartments taken" and not move in. So the catbird sings all the songs each night to tell them all bugger off this is mine lol

  • Amazing bird.Just had one land in my yard.Must be from the south though.

    He had a southern accent and was singing "Freebird".

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