If you're convinced you'll never be able to learn bird calls, start with the Gray Catbird. Once you've heard its catty mew you won't forget it. Follow the sound into thickets and vine tangles and you'll be rewarded by a somber gray bird with a black cap and bright rusty feathers under the tail. Gray Catbirds are relatives of mockingbirds and thrashers, and they share that group's vocal abilities, copying the sounds of other species and stringing them together to make their own song.

Interesting Information

• The Gray Catbird's long song may last for up to 10 minutes.

• The male Gray Catbird uses his loud song to proclaim his territory. He uses a softer version of the song when near the nest or when a bird intrudes on his territory. The female may sing the quiet song back to the male.

• The Gray Catbird belongs to the genus Dumetella, which means "small thicket." And that's exactly where you should go look for this little skulker.

• The oldest known Gray Catbird lived to be 17 years 11 months old.

• A group of catbirds are collectively known as a "mewing" and a "seat" of catbirds.

• Gray Catbirds are able to recognize their own eggs making them less susceptible to brood parasites such as the Brown-headed Cowbird.

• Their calls include the catlike meow call that gives them their name.

• When feeding on the ground, they toss leaves aside with their bills rather than scratching with their feet.

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