Fifty Birds of Town and City
Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
The catbird has a length about 9 inches; the slaty gray plumage and black cap and tail are
distinctive. The Catbird breeds throughout the United States west to New Mexico, Utah, Oregon,
and Washington, and in southern Canada; winters from the Gulf States to Panama.
In some localities the catbird is fairly common. Tangled growths are its
favorite nesting places and retreats, and ornamental shrubbery around houses will attract
and keep them inside a town. The catbird has a fine song, frequently broken by meowing
like a cat. Its habits are somewhat similar to those of its cousin, the mockingbird,
with song almost as varied, but it is more secretive and usually sings while hidden in the
bushes. The Catbird feeds on fruit and insects, and can be lured to shelves and windows by
raisins, cherries, or chopped apples.
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