I have been hearing a male European Blackbird the last few
days producing perfect mimicry of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo's. It has fooled
me a couple of times. I was unaware before that Blackbirds do so, but suppose
there are many other species that we have never though of that can mimic other
species. I have often heard Olive-backed Orioles mimicking White-bellied
Cuckoo-shrikes. During the 1994 drought, White-browed Woodswallows mimicking
Cockatiels and Striped Honeyeaters in Sydney. I have also heard Common Starlings
mimic Bell Miners in Bathurst (central NSW), well away from any Bell Miner
colony. Yellow-throated Scrubwrens can also mimic an extraordinary number of
species like that of Superb Lyrebirds, and have heard one mimic Logrunners,
Eastern Spinebills, Satin Bowerbirds, Grey Shrike-thrush etc all in one
performance.
Edwin
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