Why did they pick the mockingbird for state bird?

The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) was designated as the state bird of Texas on March 16, 1927, by the Thirty-Fifth Texas Legislature. The legislation selecting this bird was authored by Representative and future Texas Governor Beauford Jester, who stated, “The mockingbird sings during the day and guards and sings during the night, protecting its nest with such fierce determination and courage, that it represents with singular appropriateness the true Texas spirit.”