The virtuosos of the Mimid Family in this area are Gray Catbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, and Thrashers. “Mimid” is Latin for “mimic” and the Catbird, shown here, is the best performer in the family, in our opinion.
Catbirds get their name, of course, from their plaintive “meowing,” but they – especially males defending territories – also mimic other birds, frogs, machines, and almost 100 other sounds. And, unlike other Mimids, they can sing long arias without repeating a single mimicked sound.
However, Catbirds are more bashful performers than their cousins; they prefer to sing unseen and we often must part a leafy curtain to catch their performance. (Brooklin, Maine)