A thrush that sings varied melodious songs on warm summer nights … in Europe, the nightingale; in North America, the mockingbird. One gets romantic odes, fairy tales, nostalgic songs, and instrumental duets broadcast on the radio; the other gets cursed for making a racket at two in the morning. What gives? Is it the name? Beautiful birdsong in the middle of the night is a gift, and you only get it a few months of the year. Try to think of your mockingbird as a nightingale and see what a difference it makes.