If you hear a soft cat-like "mew" coming from a dense bush and a slim gray bird slips into view, you have met a Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). It is named for that meow, but it also strings together long, rambling songs stolen from other birds.
What it looks like
Adults are about 22cm long, an even slate gray over the whole body with a neat black cap on the crown. Two clues seal the identification: a patch of rusty cinnamon under the tail, and a long dark tail it often flicks and cocks upward. The eyes and bill are dark, giving it a clean, plain look that stands out once you know it.
When and where
- Season: Spring through fall, arriving in May and heading south by October.
- Habitat: Dense shrubs, hedgerows, thickets, and the tangled edges of gardens and woods.
- Best time: Morning, when males sing from inside a thicket.
A singer that borrows
Catbirds are mimics, members of the same family as mockingbirds. A single bird can copy more than a hundred different sounds, weaving snatches of other birds, frogs, and even machinery into one long, jumbled, never-repeating song. Unlike a mockingbird, which repeats each phrase several times, the catbird rarely says the same thing twice in a row, so its song sounds messy and improvised.
Spot one this weekend
Gray catbirds are Uncommon, often heard before they are seen. Stand quietly near a thick hedge or berry bush in early summer and listen for the telltale mew. A little patience usually pays off, since a curious catbird will often pop up to the edge of the brush to check you out.