Gray Catbird vs Northern Mockingbird: ID Challenge

Gray Catbird Identification

Courtesy Andrew Theus

If you think you hear a cat mewing from the branches of a tree or shrub, you might want to look for this unique bird. Gray catbirds are easily identified by their all-over gray plumage and black cap, as well as brown feathers beneath the tail. They call most of the midwestern United States home during breeding season, with less common sightings in the Great Plains region and the Southwest.

Year-round, birders can find them along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastlines. While most birders recognize their distinctive mew call, catbirds are excellent mimics and can imitate other species’ calls and mechanical noises in songs that last up to 10 minutes. Male and female catbirds resemble each other.

See more gray colored birds that you might see.

Northern Mockingbird Identification

Courtesy Helen Fojtik

The top mimics of the bird world, northern mockingbirds sing, and sing, and sing. They’ll mimic everything from other birds’ songs to car alarms. Unfortunately for those living in the bird’s range, they utilize this incredible skill constantly — including very early in the morning, when humans are trying to sleep.

Identifiable by their gray backs, white breast, and long tail, birders can also look for white “wing patches” visible in flight. They call most of the southern half of the United States home, year-round. Male and female mockingbirds resemble each other, while juveniles have spotted plumage on their breast.

Courtesy Rebecca Grant

Once you can distinguish a catbird vs mockingbird, take on another tricky identification challenge: purple finch vs house finch.

Catbird vs Mockingbird: Keys to ID

Courtesy Sarah Wichman

What’s the quickest way to distinguish a gray catbird vs northern mockingbird? Look at their breast. Catbirds boast gray plumage all over their bodies, while a mockingbird’s breast is whitish-colored in contrast with its gray back. In addition, gray catbirds lack the northern mockingbird’s white wing bars and the white patches that appear on their wings in flight. Mockingbirds also tend to be larger than catbirds.

To distinguish them by ear, listen for the number of repetitions in the song. Northern mockingbirds repeat “phrases” multiple times, a catbird will usually only sing a “phrase” once.

Sources

• Audubon Field Guide, “Gray Catbird“
• Audubon Field Guide, “Northern Mockingbird“
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “Gray Catbird: Identification“