The Gray Catbird is pretty easy to identify - there aren't many solid gray birds out there! It has a black cap and tail. Named Dumetella carolinensis, it is found in most of the US and lower Canada. It is a bird that enjoys thickets and the edge of forests. And yes, its call sounds sort of like a cat mewing.

Catbirds are members of the Mimid family, the same type of bird as thrashers and mockingbirds.



I only get these rarely in my back yard, just one showing up alone in the summer. They seem to like jelly! I put out jelly one time to see what would eat it and a catbird showed up immediately, enjoying the treat.



More Catbird Photos

The Birding Encyclopedia