ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

The gray catbird is named for its habit of meowing like a cat. This is the worst imitator of the mimics - the catbird's song is of squeaky quality. It does not repeat a full series of notes or phrases like the other mimics, but sings disjointedly.

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Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: April-August

• Incubation: 12-14 days

• Clutch Size: 3-5 eggs

• Young Fledge: 10-11 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: fruit and insects such as ants, beetles, flies, and moths

Description
The gray catbird is a uniform dark gray with a black cap and a patch of rusty feathers under the tail.

Habitat and Habits
This fairly common summer resident inhabits shrublands, brushy thickets, forest edges and other successional habitats. It is the most secretive of the mimics and often sings from a concealed perch and seldom leaves heavy cover.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The nest, hidden in thick bushes, is of twigs and stems and is lined with plant down. The three to five eggs are blue-green. Both parents care for the young.