Blackbird mimicry (was Common Koel calling at Kambah)

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Rod,

Yes Blackbirds are vocal imitators. A little different from most others, in that they tend to choose one or two favourite song phrases from some other sound, usually but not always bird song, and tack it onto the end or at some particular position within their own song phrases. For example, one near me a few years ago often did the call of Rainbow Bee-eaters at the end of its song. They don't often copy strings of other sounds or do it as subsong, but usually an individual Blackbird will just do one sound in the same sequence.

 

Philip