Gray Catbird
Don’t let the Gray Catbird fool you with its mimic calls. It can easily imitate the songs of other popular backyard birds.
Photos
Information
Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis.
Family: Mimic thrush.
Length: 8-1/2 inches.
Wingspan: 11 inches.
Distinctive Markings: Slate-gray body with a black cap and tail, rust-red feathers under tail.
Nest: Builds nest in a garden shrub or thickets near creeks or swamps. Female usually lays four glossy teal eggs.
Voice: Alarm call is a catlike mewing; song is a mix of notes, may mimic other songbirds.
Habitat: Dense thickets.
Diet: Insects and berries.
Backyard Favorites: Grape jelly and birdbaths.
Bird Song & Range Map
Listen to the Gray Catbird’s song and learn where to spot them!
Bird songs provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Range maps provided by Kaufman Field Guides, the official field guide of Birds & Blooms.
Originally Published: September 28, 2013