<P> Both male and female mockingbirds sing, with the latter being generally quieter and less vocal . Male commencement of singing is in late January to February and continues into the summer and the establishing of territory into the fall . Frequency in female singing is more sporadic, as it sings less often in the summer and fall, and only sings when the male is away from the territory . The mockingbird also possesses a large song repertoire that ranges from 43 to 203 song types and the size varies by region . Repertoire sizes ranged from 14 to 150 types in Texas, and two studies of mockingbirds in Florida rounded estimates to 134 and 200, approximately . It continually expands its repertoire during its life, though it pales in comparison to mimids such as the brown thrasher . </P> <P> There are four recognized calls for the mockingbird: the nest relief call, hew call, chat or chatburst, and the begging call . The hew call is mainly used by both sexes for potential nest predators, conspecific chasing, and various interactions between mates . The differences between chats and chatbursts are frequency of use, as chats are year - round, and chatbursts occur in the fall . Another difference is that chatbursts appear to be used in territorial defense in the fall, and the chats are used by either sex when disturbed . The nest relief and begging calls are only used by the males . </P> <P> A laboratory observation of 38 mockingbird nestlings and fledglings (thirty - five and three, respectively) recorded the behavioral development of young mockingbirds . Notable milestones included the eyes opening, soft vocalizations, begging, and preening began within the first six days of life . Variation in begging and more compact movements such as perching, fear crouching, and stretching appeared by the ninth day . Wing - flashing, bathing, flight, and leaving the nest happened within seventeen days (nest leaving occurred within 11 to 13 days). Improvements of flight, walking and self - feeding took place within forty days . Agonistic behavior increased during the juvenile stages, to the extent of one of two siblings living in the same area was likely killed by the other . </P> <P> Adult mockingbirds can fall victim to birds of prey such as the great horned owl, screech owl and sharp - shinned hawk, though their tenacious behavior makes them less likely to being captured . Scrub - jays also have killed and eaten mockingbirds . Snakes rarely capture incubating females . Fledgelings have been prey to domestic cats, red - tailed hawks, and crows . Eggs and nestlings are consumed by blue jays, fish crows and American crows, red - tailed hawks, swallow - tailed kites, snakes, squirrels, and cats . Blowfly larvae and Haemoproteus have been found in Florida and Arizona populations, respectively . </P>

How long do mocking birds stay in the nest