The Wikipedia article on mockingbirds began with this beautiful public domain northern mockingbird photograph.  The subject came to mind because friend E was talking to me about how dangerously they live.  According to E, she was walking early this morning and saw the remains of a mockingbird who knew her.    She is surprised, because the mockingbirds nest low, according to her, where they are in more danger, even though they could nest higher.  I think that here, they may nest on low branches because wind is less lower to the ground, and these birds are small.

I described the following, which I personally did see.  A bird was making a lot of noise, and dive-bombing a cat, which escaped by hiding under a parked car.  She said that this behavior sounds like that of a mockingbird.

I also believe I saw a couple of mockingbirds this morning in a couple of our young trees this morning, but they flew off before I could get a picture.  (Maybe mockingbirds come out a lot in the morning. My guess. )

The particular mockingbird which she thought was killed was probably one which knew that she was coming a block before she got there.  She proclaimed them to be “smart”, and so I googled “mockingbird intelligence”,  and sure enough I found that they can distinguish between people who are a threat, and who they do not think are a threat.

Birds are amazing!