Spring is a wonderful time of year as we welcome the return of some of our favorite migrant birds from their wintering grounds. One such returning traveler is the Gray Catbird, whose unforgettable feline-like mewing makes it a favorite for beginning birders learning to sharpen their ears.
Catbirds occupy the same family—Mimidae, from the Latin for “mimic”—as mockingbirds and thrashers and, as such, share the ability to imitate the sounds of other bird species and incorporate them into their own songs.
Look for Gray Catbirds in dense shrubs and tangles of vines along forest edges and old fields. From a distance, they may appear to be entirely gray, but actually sport a small black cap on top of their heads and a reddish-brown patch underneath their tails.
Enjoy these five photos of Gray Catbirds from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest and let us know if you’ve spotted (or heard) any catbirds in your neighborhood lately!
Glad to find this post! Spotted and photographed one at Fresh Pond Reservations in Cambridge, MA this morning!
Heard then spotted the first of the season here in Leeds, MA two days ago – enjoying their happy song as my wake-up call now…
Today I spotted one in a bush near Perkins Playgroung in Newburyport. Never noticed the reddish brown patch. Now I will look for it the next time I see a catbird. thanks!
I live in the piedmont area of NC where I welcome the return of “my” catbirds every year. They devour the suet and also hulled seed sunflower, and rarely flush if I approach. I also have a mockingbird and brown thrasher who compete with the catbirds and woodpeckers for the duet.
I will listen for their call. Love these birds.
one of my favorites!
This post is very fitting for this grey, rainy day and I suddenly want to watch “The Big Year” movie now. I am almost 99.9% positive I saw one of these gorgeous guys in my backyard this morning. Tried to capture a snapshot, but he/she was too quick!