A catbird is a mimic when it is not a burglar, wherein it learned to keep its mouth shut. When busking in the bushes its mimic skills are not as varied as a mockingbird, perhaps because it is less inspired by the songs of other birds and prefers the feline muse. Nonetheless a catbird can be quite effusive, almost as if arguing with itself. I should know ... shut ... up! Where was I? Oh yes, the plaintive calls resemble a cat with a sack of woe.