Species BirdsGray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

CommonBird
Illustration of Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

The Gray Catbird is a sleek, gray mimid named for its mewing cat-like call. It is one of few birds documented to recognize and eject cowbird eggs from its nest, identifying them by the different size and color. Its song is a long, rambling medley of squeaks, mews, whistles, and imitations, each phrase given only once — distinguishing it from the thrasher, which typically repeats each phrase twice.

Habitat
Dense shrubby thickets, forest edges, and suburbs
Diet
Insects, berries, and small fruits
How common
Common

Best time to see a Gray Catbird

The best time to see a Gray Catbird is April–June, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 80,021 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Gray Catbird sightings near you

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