Don’t Mock the Mockingbird
Tuesday May 19, 2009
Just as humans can recognize individual animals, so can northern mockingbirds according to a story in Science Daily. A University of Florida study has found that the birds can quickly recognize specific individuals who have previously threatened their nests and will defend their territory by screeching and diving at the intruders, ignoring other individuals who are not perceived as threats.This study suggests that some bird species may have a stronger perceptive intelligence that can help them thrive in urban or other constantly changing environments. Other examples include the fact that ravens will use automobiles to crack open nuts and some insectivorous birds have learned that car grills and bumpers are feasts of bugs.
I can personally attest that birds can recognize individuals: the western scrub-jays in my yard harass me for their daily dose of peanuts, but rarely bother my husband as he doesn’t fill the feeders. What birds recognize you? Share your experiences in the comments!
Northern Mockingbird
Photo © Mike Baird / bairdphotos.com
Comments
Thanks for using my Northern Mocking Bird under the Creative Commons license. Well done. Always a privilege to contribute to an about.com piece.
I was lounging by a pool in Florida, and there was a Mockingbird singing away about 10 feet from me. He was doing his typical thing, trying out different melodies in groups of 3. I decided to try an experiment- I whistled the first 4 notes of Beethoven’s 5th over an over again. After awhile, the Mockingbird looked at me, whistled it ONCE, and continued with his spiel.
Pigeons are very good at recognizing individual people. This has to do in part with their amazing visual memory, I guess, and their ability to navigate. Scientists have done at least one study on this, and I’ve had my own experiences to confirm it.
The pigeons in the park have recognized me regardless of what clothes I’ve got on, whether I’m wearing glasses or sunglasses, and whether my hair is up or down, and they used to fly to me eagerly long before I had any food out and even if I was several yards away. I haven’t fed them in a year (I love feeding them, but I know it’s not in their best interest) and a few of them still come up to me.
This is another interesting article, Melissa. Thanks so much for confirming my belief in the intelligence of so many of our birds. To add to this “thread” I have found that when I fill the feeders in my yard, 2 WBNuthatches will hang around, “doing their upside down hanging thing”, a few Northern cardinals and the chicadees will “chit” and sing a little as they fly over to the feeder I’m filling. (A little like kids who can’t wait for a treat.)
And regarding cars, I have found peanut shells on top of my car battery when I fill the windshield washer fluid container.
My friend has a number of hummingbird feeders around her very large covered back porch, and there are sometimes as many as 50 birds buzzing around even when there are a large number of people there. She’s the one who fills the feeders. When the feeders get empty or low of nectar, they start buzzing around my friend’s head, but not other people’s.
Hi, my name is Guaiguai, I’m a 16 pound short hair tabby. I’m bullies daily by a mockingbird in the yard. I can’t going out in the yard without it screeching, dive bombing at me and following me everywhere I go. My owner just confirmed his suspicion its a mockingbird on the internet. Are there any kitty support groups where I can seek support in companionship?