Another Scarborough Mockingbird?

[spatsycat]

Late this afternoon, I saw and heard one on Ashtonbee Rd., west of Warden. There's a bit of scruff bush on the south side behind the Staples back parking lot and it was singing away to beat the band and seemed to be eating some kind of berry. Couldn't get close enough to tell what kind of shrub but there are several bushes there.
None of the calls sounded like mimicry of any bird I've ever heard - nice trills followed by squeaks and gurgles.
Quite the neat experience!
My guide books say they can have quite a range but this seems too far away from Progress to be the same bird.

[cloaca]

You're right that they're likely not the same bird.  Mockingbirds are not uncommon in the GTA now, despite what the older field guides will suggest.

[Kin Lau]

I've had mockingbirds in about a dozen different places in Scarborough.

[Bluffs Birder]

I've also seen many in the southern Scarborough region.  There are several along the top of the Bluffs and also a few down at Bluffer's Park.  Another place to watch for them is beside the train tracks.  They seem to prefer the open fields or anywhere similar that they can find.  In 2007 I had one stay the winter at a house across the street from me and it came to my backyard a few times to observe what all the fuss was about around the bird feeders.

[Brian Bailey]

I work a couple of blocks west of there, and we've had resident mockingbirds for at least 5 years.

As others have suggested, they were uncommon in Toronto 15 years ago, but they are widespread now.

BB

[spatsycat]

Oh you lucky Scarborough birders! I would love to have one so close by - just to listen to that voice ....
Guess they wouldn't be too interested in the Yonge/Eg area - certainly not much 'open' around here!

[BirderBill]

I am certain I saw a pair recently at the "Distillery District".
I was looking for the Orioles I was hearing, when these two "other" birds showed up!

[spatsycat]

Gee, another reason to visit the Distillery district and a natural one at that!