The question of why mockingbirds mimic certain birds (Carolina wrens, tufted titmice, blue jays, cardinals) and not others (mourning doves and chipping sparrows) may shed light on the lyrebird’s selective mimicry. The mockingbird mimics only those songs similar in pitch and rhythm to its own vocalizations. It may be physically unable to replicate certain features of other species’ songs, such as smoothly coordinated switches from one side of the syrinx to the other or jumps in the frequencies of notes. This may be true of lyrebirds, too.
