Birding by Ear: Mission Trails Nature Center

Sunday, March 29, 2026

8:30-11am

Birding by Ear for Beginners (and the Rest of Us!) at Mission Trails Regional Park!

Part 6: Know If its a Mimic or the Real Deal

Leaders: Willow Eichler and Elena Adams

Learn to enjoy and identify birds by ear! This skill allows you to more easily identify the birds that are all around you, especially when they are hiding under cover in chaparral or high up in riparian woodland treetops. As we get to know California Scrub Jays, Mockingbirds, and California Thrashers along the trail, we hope to hear a repertoire of calls that mimic other birds (and perhaps more).

Bring binoculars, hats, sunscreen, and water. The trail is gently sloped. Substrate is mostly packed dirt, with some large rocks to look out for here and there. Restroom facilities with flush toilets and water fountains are available at the visitors center. 

From National Audubon's article "Are You Listening to a Bird Mimic or the Real Deal?," the sixth article in a series on Birding by Ear: "A large repertoire is a clear, ringing endorsement to how strong of a suitor a male is. As mimicry is learned over time, a bird that has a large variety of songs has likely been around a long time. It also doubles as a way to dissuade rivals from entering a male’s territory.

“With all these motivations, birds can get really good at imitations (you’ve probably heard of the famed lyrebird from Australia), and they practice their tricks more often than you might think. As if birding by ear wasn’t hard enough, this adds another wrinkle to identifying the voices you hear outside … If you know which species are capable of mimicry, you might avoid the trap of mistaking it for a more unusual bird.” 

Capped at 18 participants. Registration required.

Location Details:

Driving directions: Follow Mission Gorge Road. From I-15, go east on Mission Gorge Rd. about 3.5 miles, then turn left onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. From 125 N, go west on Mission Gorge Rd. about 5 miles, then turn right onto Father Junipero Serra Trail.