| Gray Catbird | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Mimidae |
| Genus: | Dumetella |
| Species: | Dumetella carolinensis |
A secretive, but curious skulker of dense thickets, the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is heard more than it is seen. Its rambling song contains imitations of other bird songs, but the characteristic "mew" that gives it its name is not an imitation and sounds only vaguely cat-like.
Description[]
The Gray Catbird is about 9", or 22.5 cm, long. It is slate-gray with a black crown, a long, thin black bill, and a chestnut patch under its tail, which is visible when the bird perches with its long, black tail cocked. The sexes are alike.
Feeding[]
The Gray Catbird feeds on insects and fruit.
Breeding[]
The male Gray Catbird uses his loud song to proclaim his territory. He uses a softer version of the song when near the nest or when a territorial intruder is nearby. The female may sing the quiet song back to the male.
One male Gray Catbird was observed to be mated to two females in different territories. The territories were separated by another catbird territory, but the male defended both of them.
The Gray Catbird nests in thick shrubs. The nest, cup-shaped, is built by both sexes. The female lays 4-6 blue-green eggs and incubates them for 12-13 days. Both sexes care for their young, which fledge after 10-11 days. The Catbird generally produces two broods per year.
Although the Brown-headed Cowbird lays eggs in Gray Catbird nests, the catbird throws most of them out. The catbird learns to recognize its own eggs, probably by looking at them. If a cowbird quickly replaces the first catbird egg in a nest, the catbird may recognize the cowbird egg as its own and throw out its own eggs as they are laid. But such mistakes are rare, and few catbirds are ever seen incubating cowbird eggs.
Distribution and habitat[]
Found in most of the US except for the Southwest and in southern Canada, the Gray Catbird winters in the southeastern US and in eastern Mexico. Some populations that breed in the southern US are resident. It is typically found in low, dense thickets in deciduous woodlands and residential areas.