Texana Thursday: 3 Things You Might Not Know about Mockingbirds

The mockingbird is the Texas state bird. (Creative Commons license attribution, photo courtesy Charles Patrick Ewing)

Mention the word “mockingbird” to a Texan, and chances are many he or she might think of the well-traveled thoroughfare near the Southern Methodist University campus in north Dallas.

Others, meanwhile, might remember the song of that title by James Taylor and Carly Simon.

The mockingbird is the state bird of Texas. It is a medium-sized bird that is known for its long tail, grey top color, white or cream underside, and white wing patches.

Three things you might not know about mockingbirds are:

1. The mockingbird is known for its ability to mimic other birds.

The mockingbird imitates other birds, but it can also imitate other sounds such as sirens. Male mockingbirds sing more frequently than their female counterparts, in part to establish their territory and to attract their mates.

To hear a mockingbird sing, watch this video.

2. The mockingbird became the Texas state bird in 1927.

The Texas Legislature, upon the recommendation of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs, declared the mockingbird as the Texas state bird. Among other reasons, the federation said the mockingbird is found in all areas of the state, it is a “singer of distinctive type, a fighter for the protection of his home, falling if need be, in its defense, like any true Texan.”

The federation wasn’t joking when it said the mockingbird was a fighter. Mockingbirds can and do attack hawks and cats, which in turn prey on them.

3. The mockingbird is the state bird in four other states.

Texans aren’t the only ones who love mockingbirds. Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee have also named the mockingbird as their respective state bird.

South Carolina also made the mockingbird its state bird from 1939-48. Today, the Carolina Wren is the South Carolina state bird.