Gray Catbirds are common breeders across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country. They winter in coastal areas of the states from about the mid-Atlantic through TX and also winter in the Caribbean and Central America. Catbirds are relatives of mockingbirds and thrashers and, like them, have the ability to mimic the sounds of other species, incorporating these sounds into their own song. Catbirds love thickets and eat insects and fruit and berries.
When we go to Sanibel, FL in winter, there are many catbirds wintering. Mainly they lay low in vegetation during the day. But just at dusk, you can hear them calling before they go to sleep for the night. Suddenly you are aware there are a lot more catbirds in the area than you knew. I look forward to that.
By the way, are any of you seeing Gray Catbirds now?
8 comments:
Mine left a month or so ago in Nags Head, NC.(Outer Banks) I enjoyed their antics all summer!
I saw one many months ago in Boca Raton,Fl at Daggerwing nature center, but none since I'm in Ft Laud. Fl. Thanks for the beautiful pics.
Lauren
I saw my first and only one in May of this year, here in San Angelo, Texas. Fortunately, I was able to get a decent photo, too. It is pretty rare around here.
I have purchased your new Guide and I and my wife love it.
We saw and photographed the first and only one we ever saw here in San Angelo, Texas, in May of this year.
BTW, we love your new guide.
Such fantastic images of Gray Catbirds. I did not know that they would come to feeders!
Love seeing/hearing Catbirds in neighborhood. Don't see at feeders, but do see at birdbath!!
We saw our first Gray Catbird of the year yesterday at Six-Mile Cypress Slough in Ft. Myers, FL. He was taking a bath under some ferns in a thicket and having a grand time!
One catbird was already in my friend Hulin's yard, in Hammond, Louisiana in early October. I heard him a lot while refinishing a deck and got to see him once as he flitted from one thicket to another.
I'm looking forward to seeing him back up north this summer if I get to volunteer at Ottawa NWR.
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