There are reports of a bullfinch trained to sing “God Save the King,” a gray catbird sounding "Taps" (which it may have picked up from burial services at a nearby cemetery), and a crested lark in southern Germany that learned to imitate the four whistling notes a shepherd used to work his herding dogs. So faithful were the imitations that the dogs instantly obeyed the bird’s whistled commands, which included “Run ahead!” “Fast!” “Halt!” and “Come here!” These whistled calls subsequently spread to other larks, creating a little pocket of local “catchphrases” (and, quite possibly, some very
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