Birds mimicking others

[Matt]

I have a young hen cordon who is in an aviary along with silverbills and st helenas. Over the last couple of weeks she has modified her own song to mimic the silverbills and st helenas starting first with the silverbills quiet little song and then working up to the harsh song of the st helena. It is so unbelievably similar that for a while I thought the st helenas cue to start singing was when he heard the silverbill. When I realised it was the cordon hen, I was amazed. It's behaviours like this that makes the hobby so enjoyable.

[Jayburd]

weird!!!
I wonder what effect his has on other birds... whether this makes hem thin she's become a silverbill, or a saint, or whether she's just a mimic to them too?

[Trilobite]

G'day Matt,
I have seen this in a few birds we keep. Argualbly the best mimic is the yellow hooded siskin as it mimics quite a few species (even those not commonly kept in avaiculture - AKA the willy wagtail). I have also noticed one of the male weavers making the same call at the crimson finches when they are doing what they all like to do - ie graze on the floor no matter how much clean seed you put in the feed tray.
So yes these little gems are what make sthe hobby/profession most enjoyable.

[Matt]

The good part is they are in one of my indoor aviaries where I prepare all the feed each morning and literally as soon as I turn on the lights, she starts singing for a good hour each morning.