The Mockingbird is the symbol of Texas. Native to America, it is a member of the family Mimidae, has grey plumage and a grey tail, and is noted for its ability to mimic the songs of other birds.

Atticus Finch tells his children: “Shoot at all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird . . . because mockingbirds don’t do one thing but ... sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” The mockingbird is a potent symbol of innocence which can be destroyed by evil, and it is a motif which is repeated several times in the story.