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Meet the Northern Mockingbird, a musical genius!

Freda Savahl
ILLUMINATION
Published in
5 min readApr 18, 2024

Discover the Fascinating vocal abilities of this Unique Passerine.

What is the story behind the bird’s name?

The Northern Mockingbird has earned its name due to its outstanding capability of mimicking various sounds. Its scientific name, “Mimus polyglottos,” is derived from the Latin word “Mimus,” which means “mimic,” and the Ancient Greek “polyglottos,” which means “many-tongued.”

This name reflects its extraordinary ability to mimic a wide range of sounds with utmost perfection!

Carl Linnaeus, in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, described this species as Turdus polyglottos.

Species:

The family Mimidae belongs to the order Passeriformes and includes mockingbirds and thrashers.

The songs they sing:

Have you ever heard the sweet and melodious songs of the Northern Mockingbird? These amazing birds can sing an endless string of 10 or 15 various bird songs, making them a true music maestro of the aviary world.
Despite their gray and slender body, they possess vibrant personalities that they pour into their songs, making them a joy to listen to!

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ILLUMINATION
ILLUMINATION

Published in ILLUMINATION

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Freda Savahl
Freda Savahl

Written by Freda Savahl

Retired Nurse Practitioner WHC /Contract Provider Deployment Military Services. US Citizen. Immigrant from South Africa 1978.

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