Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinesis

Introduction

The Gray Catbird was named for its mewing call and like other species in the family Mimidae this bird displays considerable vocal versatility. The breeding range of the Gray Catbird spans southern Canada, the eastern and central US. It is a year round resident of the eastern coast of the US. It winters from the southern New England coast south to Panama, with concentrations on the US Gulf coast and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Identification

Adult Male (spring/summer)

Black cap; blackish tail and rufous undertail coverts. Remainder of bird is dark gray. Dark eyes and bill.

Adult Female (spring/summer)

Sexes are similar.

Juvenile

Juveniles are duller in colouration than adults, with buffy undertail coverts.

General Information

General:

Distinctive slate-gray songbird. Length: 21-24cm. Wing: 22-30cm. Weight: 23.2-56.5grams.

Behaviour:

Catbirds are secretive, skulking birds. Flights are typically short and low, just above top of shrubs or through small spaces among them avoiding flying across large, open space. Wing beat tempo is constant, even. Hops when moving along branches. It travels through shrubs using combination of hopping and short flights. During summer they forage for insects and, when available, take fruits and berries.
Habitat: The genus name, Dumetella, meaning “small thicket,” accurately reflects the Gray Catbird’s habitat: dense, shrubby vegetation. Throughout its range it is found in dense shrubs or vine tangles; most abundant in shrub-sapling-stage successional habitats. Gray Catbird density increases linearly with shrub density. Also found in forest edges and clearings, roadsides, fencerows, abandoned farmland and home sites, pine plantations, streamsides, and some residential areas.

Habitat:

The genus name, Dumetella, meaning “small thicket,” accurately reflects the Gray Catbird’s habitat: dense, shrubby vegetation. Throughout its range it is found in dense shrubs or vine tangles; most abundant in shrub-sapling-stage successional habitats. Gray Catbird density increases linearly with shrub density. Also found in forest edges and clearings, roadsides, fencerows, abandoned farmland and home sites, pine plantations, streamsides, and some residential areas.

Information:

The ability of the Gray Catbirds vocal versatility stems from the structure of its syrinx. Because both sides of this vocal organ are able to operate independently, the Gray Catbird can sing with two voices at the same time. This species’ song is a long series of short syllables delivered in rapid sequence. Its repertoire may include syllables of more than 100 different types varying from whistles to harsh chatters, squeaks, and even mimicry. These are sung in seemingly random order at an uneven tempo, resulting in what often sounds like an improvised babble of notes occasionally spiced with the familiar mew. The nest is built in thickets and is a bulky open nest usually within 2 meters of the ground. Number of broods are 2-3 and clutch size is 1-6 turquoise green, sometimes with small red spots, eggs. Although Brown-headed Cowbirds parasitize the Gray Catbird, they rarely are successful. The Catbird is one of only about a dozen species known to recognize Cowbird eggs and eject them from its nest, an ability that is learned, not innate. On rare occasions this learning goes awry and an individual may come to recognize Cowbird eggs as its own and reject Catbird eggs as they are laid.

Similar species:

Northern Mockingbird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla.

Conservation Status:

Listed as Least Concern. There have been recent declines in the southeast US.

Maps & Statistics

Capture Rates

Gray Catbirds live amid dense shrubs, vine tangles, and thickets of young trees in both summer and winter. Human disturbance and development often create these habitats in the form of clearings, roadsides, fencerows, abandoned farmland, and residential areas. It is a far more common species in the Interior of BC and capture rates at the Colony farm banding station have bene limited to a few individuals.

Ageing and Sexing (Band Size: 1A)

Molt Summary:

PF: HY partial (Jul-Oct), PB: AHY complete (Jul-Sep); PA absent-limited (Feb-May).

Molt occurs primarily on the summer grounds, although they can complete on the winter grounds.

Preformative molt includes 0 – 10 inner gr covs, occasionally 1 – 2 terts, and occasionally 1 – 2 central rects. Abnormal retention of the juvenile undertail covs through the preformative molt has also been recorded.

PA: at most includes a limited amount of body plumage only.

Juvenile

June - August

HY / SY

August - July

AHY / ASY

August - July