# what's this bird i hear singing in D.C.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 2, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732 "2008-04-02T22:21:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/1 "2008-04-02T22:21:47Z")
Here in D.C. there’s a very plain looking bird, sort of a narrow body, that seems to run through a half dozen or more songs in row. Each song is distinct and very “complete” sounding. Any ideas on what bird this is? Does it mimic others or just have a large songbook?
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/2 "2008-04-02T22:34:05Z")
We had a recent thread on the same topic. It’s likely to be a mockingbird.
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/3 "2008-04-02T22:45:24Z")
Sure sounds like a mockingbird. Look for the white patches in the middle of the wings when they fly.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/4 "2008-04-03T01:11:33Z")
I agree it is probably a Mockingbird. The name is due to their habit of imitating other birds’ songs. They will run through a variety of different species in one song bout. For a birder, it can be an entertaining game to see how many other species you can identify.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/5 "2008-04-03T02:45:41Z")
I have a few mockingbirds who are often outside of my house. They are damn loud.
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### Author:  [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/6 "2008-04-03T14:02:10Z")
For what it’s worth, the [Gray Catbird](http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Gray_Catbird_dtl.html) is also a mimic, and is much plainer than the [Northern Mockingbird.](http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Mockingbird_dtl.html) But the Mockingbird has a narrower body and is usually much easier to spot.
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### Author:  [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/7 "2008-04-04T18:34:23Z")
yep. mockingbird looks like. i thought of that but was under the impression, mistaken, that they were rare. wish i could get one to settle near my window, they make great singers.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/8 "2008-04-04T18:48:13Z")
We’ll sit outside for hours on a nice afternoon and simply marvel at the complexity of their repetoire. **MikeS** ’ link says it has two, one for spring and another for fall. Will be listening later to see if we can discern between the two.
What’s surprised me more this year is something mentioned in the other Mockingbird thread; hearing them at night. It’s seemed to happen pretty frequently as of late. Sometimes I’ll awake at night and hear one going great guns and think morning must be near. Then I’ll look at the clock and it’ll be 3:00 am.
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### Author:  [@AlmondJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlmondJoy)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-bird-i-hear-singing-in-d-c/443732/9 "2008-04-04T19:41:46Z")
I would agree that is probably a mockingbird, I hear them all the time!