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Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Family: Mimidae (Mockingbirds & Thrashers)  |
Description: Gray Catbirds are a slim entirely slate-colored bird including their feet and their short slender bill. The exceptions are their long black tail, a black cap and russet or brownish red undertail coverts. The juveniles have similar coloration to the adults but with more brownish tones and no black cap. The family Mimidae (which in Latin means imitation or mimic) includes mockingbirds, catbirds and thrashers. The postures and movements of bird tails (while not in flight) are used to sometimes express their emotions. Catbird and thrasher tails are rarely still - they toss and jerk their tails in all directions. As to what emotion this tail-jerking is expressing -- your guess is as good as mine! This friendly bird has been known to come to humans who imitate their feline (cat-like) mewing call. If you are interested in attracting a neighboring Catbird, look to find one around grapevines and blackberry patches. Range: (May - October) Summers in eastern North America moving west to northern United States and southern Canada. Winters in Central America and the Carribean.
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Size: 8 - 9 inches Diet: Berries, small fruits, seeds, land and water insects Habitat: Dense woodland undergrowth, shrubs or thickets, gardens, overgrowth bordering marshes Call: Cat-like "meeow." Breeding Song: Mimics other songs, even squawking chickens and notes played by musical instruments such as organs and trumpets. Usually doesn't repeat same song. |
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