In a world of esoteric and sometimes confusing naming conventions, it’s a refreshing change of pace when a bird’s name makes plain and simple sense. Anyone who’s ever heard the distinctive mewing of the Gray Catbird will quickly understand why the name fits. At Faville Grove, catbirds can often be heard calling from the thickety edges of woods and savannas, and the low, dense shrubs that dot the floodplain prairies and marshes of the sanctuary. Their genus, Dumetella, means low thicket, and this is precisely where you may encounter them. Along with their distinctive, cat-like mew, they will often let out long, complex vocalizations that switch beyond melodious and mechanical. To me, it’s one of the most fascinating bird calls, and no two calls seem to ever sound the same. Catbirds are, after all, part of the mockingbirds and thrashers group, and their calls will sometimes incorporate a whole range of mimicked noises, all with a unique flavor.
A Gray Catbird perched in a shrub laden with berries (photo via Pixabay).
Belying these peculiar and expressive sounds is a relatively simple appearance—gray body with a black band atop the head, with rusty feathers on the underside of the tail. Their large black eyes match their dark head and slender beak well, and complete a simple yet elegant appearance. Gray Catbirds can be somewhat difficult to spot even if one is heard, being sometimes reluctant to leave the dense, low vegetation they take up in. They’ll often sing from the tops of shrubs, and can also be seen foraging on low branches and the ground for insects and fruit. Their plumage tends to blend in well, and watching for movement within foliage after hearing one can be a good strategy to identify them.
A fairly common city and suburban bird, catbirds are attracted to many fruit-bearing shrubs, such as dogwoods, serviceberries, elderberries and even poison ivy (not suggesting you plant that one, though many birds do love its berries!). As we progress further into fall, catbirds will soon begin their migration southward, to the southeast US and eastern Central America. Gray Catbirds undergo a full molt at the end of summer before migration, and individuals seen during this time may appear notably haggard. By the time they’re ready to migrate, however, their smooth and polished plumage is back in order, ready to take them to fairer grounds for the winter.
Written by Tucker Sanborn, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward
Cover photo via Pixabay. A Gray Catbird perches on a the branch of a tree with white bark.
