Examples of birds that mimic include African grey, amazon parrot, American crow, blue jays, and brown thrasher.
Mimicry is a type of camouflage that allows animals to blend in with their surroundings. There are many different types of mimicry, but one of the most fascinating is when animals copy the behavior or appearance of another species.
Birds are especially known for their ability to mimic other birds, and there are some species that have been nicknamed “the mimics” because they can imitate so many other birds. Here is a look at some birds that are experts at mimicry.
Examples of Birds that Mimic
1. African Grey Parrot
| Scientific Name | Psittacus erithacus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout the lowland rainforests in western and central Africa |
The African grey parrot is one of the best-known mimics in the animal kingdom. These birds can imitate the sounds of other animals, including humans. They are also able to learn words and phrases, and some have been known to have vocabularies of more than 100 words.
2. Amazon Parrot
| Scientific Name | Amazona |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Neotropical Americas, ranging from South America to Mexico, and the Caribbean |
The Amazon parrot is a type of mimic bird that is native to South America. These parrots are known for their ability to imitate the sounds of other birds, as well as the sounds of humans.
3. American Crow
| Scientific Name | Corvus brachyrhynchos |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | fields, open woodlands, and forests |
The American crow is one of the most common birds in North America, and it is also one of the best mimics. Crows are known for their ability to mimic the calls of other birds, and they have been known to imitate the sounds of animals like dogs and cats.
4. Blue Jays
| Scientific Name | Cyanocitta |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Alberta eastward to Quebec and throughout the Atlantic provinces) and throughout the eastern and central United States |
Blue jays are known for their ability to mimic the vocalizations of hawks. This behavior is thought to be a way to scare off other birds and animals from their territory. Blue jays have also been known to imitate the sounds of other animals, including squirrels, mice, and even humans.
5. Brown Thrasher
| Scientific Name | Toxostoma rufum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout the eastern and central United States and southern and central Canada |
The brown thrasher is a type of bird that is found in North America. This bird is known for its ability to mimic the songs of other birds. The brown thrasher has a wide range of vocalizations, and it can imitate the sounds of more than 90 different species of birds.
6. Budgerigar
| Scientific Name | Melopsittacus undulatus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | through most of Australia’s interior west of the Great Dividing Range |
The budgerigar, also known as the common pet parakeet, is a small parrot that is native to Australia. These birds are known for their ability to mimic human speech, and they are one of the most popular pets in the world. Budgerigars can also mimic other sounds, such as whistles and kisses.
7. Catbirds
| Scientific Name | Dumetella carolinensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | 46 of the lower 48 United States and across southern Canada |
The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most well-known mimics, but did you know that there are other birds in the same family that are also excellent mimics? The Catbird is a member of the Mimidae family, and it gets its name from its ability to mimic the sounds of other animals, including cats.
These birds are found in North and South America, and they are known for their beautiful singing voices. In addition to mimicry, Catbirds also use a type of camouflage called “disruptive coloration.” This is when an animal has colors or patterns that break up its outline, making it harder for predators to see.
8. Cockatoo
| Scientific Name | Cacatuidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Philippines |
The cockatoo is a type of bird that is known for its ability to mimic the sounds of other birds. Cockatoos are native to Australia and Indonesia, and they are often kept as pets because of their ability to imitate human speech.
There are many different types of cockatoos, but the most common is the white cockatoo. Other types of cockatoos include the black cockatoo, the red-tailed cockatoo, and the sulfur-crested cockatoo.
9. Eclectus Parrot
| Scientific Name | Eclectus roratus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Eastern Cape York Peninsula, from Pascoe River south to Massey Creek and inland to McIlwraith Range |
The Eclectus parrot is a tropical bird that is found in the rainforests of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. These parrots are known for their bright plumage, which is made up of red, blue, and green feathers.
The males and females of this species have different colorations, with the males being mostly green and the females being mostly red. These parrots are also known for their ability to mimic the sounds of other animals, including humans.
10. European Starling
| Scientific Name | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across the United States, in the Bahamas, Central America, Yucatan Peninsula, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba |
The European starling is a common bird in Europe and Asia, and it is also one of the most proficient mimics. This bird can imitate the calls of more than 40 other species of birds, as well as the sounds of animals like frogs, squirrels, and even machinery.
11. Hill Myna
| Scientific Name | Gracula religiosa |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | hill regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia |
The Hill Myna is a tropical bird that is found in Southeast Asia. It is known for its ability to imitate the sounds of other animals, including humans. The Hill Myna has a repertoire of about 200 different sounds, and it can even mimic human speech.
12. Macaw
| Scientific Name | Ara macao |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | anywhere between Southern Mexico and Northern Argentina |
The macaw is a type of parrot that is known for its colorful plumage. These birds are native to Central and South America, and they are often kept as pets. Macaws can mimic the sounds of other animals, including humans. One of the most famous macaws was named “Buddy” and he could say over 150 words.
13. Mockingbirds
| Scientific Name | Mimidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the majority of the continental United States and in Canada and Mexico |
Mockingbirds are known for their ability to mimic the sounds of other birds, and they can also imitate the sounds of frogs, insects, and even machinery. They use their skills to attract mates and to warn other birds away from their territory.
14. Quaker Parrot
| Scientific Name | Myiopsitta monachus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | near large water sources, and in the lowland areas of Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil |
The Quaker parrot is a native of South America, but it has become a popular pet in many parts of the world. These parrots are known for their ability to mimic human speech, and they can also imitate other sounds, such as dogs barking or phones ringing.
15. Ravens
| Scientific Name | Corvus corax |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | open and forest habitats across western and northern North America |
The Common Raven is one of the most widespread birds in the world, and it is also one of the best mimics. Ravens have been known to copy the calls of other birds, as well as the sounds of animals and even humans. In one famous case, a raven in Alaska learned to imitate the voice of a researcher and would call out to him by name when he came near.
16. Rose-Ringed Parakeet
| Scientific Name | Psittacula krameri |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Indian subcontinent |
The rose-ringed parakeet is a bird that is native to Africa and Asia. These parakeets are known for their ability to mimic the sounds of other birds, as well as humans. In fact, these birds are so good at mimicry that they have been known to imitate the sounds of cars and other machinery.
17. Sage Thrasher
| Scientific Name | Oreoscoptes montanus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | western North America, from southern Canada to northern Arizona and New Mexico |
The Sage Thrasher is a small bird that is found in the western United States. It is gray and white with a long tail. The Sage Thrasher is a mimic, and it can imitate the songs of more than 15 different kinds of birds. The Sage Thrasher’s song is a mix of sounds from other birds, and it often sounds like a jumble of words.
18. Stellar Jay
| Scientific Name | Cyanocitta stelleri |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | western North and Central America, from Alaska to Nicaragua |
The Stellar Jay is a member of the crow family, and it is known for its ability to mimic the calls of other birds. It is found in North America, and it is one of the most common mimics. Some of the birds that it has been known to imitate include the Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, and Blue Jay.
19. Superb Lyrebird
| Scientific Name | Menura novaehollandiae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | south-eastern Australia |
The superb lyrebird is a native of Australia, and it is the largest member of the lyrebird family. The bird is known for its beautiful tail feathers, which it uses to attract mates.
But the superb lyrebird is also an accomplished mimic, and it can imitate the sounds of other birds, as well as the sounds of animals and even machinery. The bird has been known to imitate the sounds of cameras, cell phones, and car alarms.
20. Yellow-Breasted Chat
| Scientific Name | Icteria virens |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout North America |
The yellow-breasted chat is a North American bird that is known for its ability to mimic the sounds of other birds, as well as other animals. It has been known to imitate the calls of more than 100 different species of birds, and it can even mimic the sound of a rattlesnake.
The chat’s song is a mix of sounds from different birds, and it has been known to learn the songs of birds that live in other parts of the country.
Conclusion
Some birds have the ability to copy the sounds of other animals or even human speech. This skill allows them to deceive potential predators and prey into thinking they are something else, which gives these birds a strategic advantage.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.