Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Description: Gray catbirds are average-sized birds that have lengthy, curved tails. They have relatively long legs and have large curved wings. Gray catbirds are almost entirely gray, but they do have black coloration on their heads and tails and some red coloration under their tails. They are about 8.3-9.4 in. in length and have a wingspan of 8.7-11.8 in. They weigh approximately 0.8-2.0 oz.
Habitat: The Gray catbird can be found in most of the contiguous United States during the summer. It also may spend the winter in Mexico. Gray catbirds live in open woods in thick bushes. Female catbirds build nests made of twigs, straw, bark, and mud. They are lined with grass, hair, and pine needles. They build these nests in the low branches of thick bushes or vines.
Diet: Gray catbirds primarily eat insects. They also eat fruit when they can find it. Some staples of their diet include: ants, beetles, grasshoppers, midges, caterpillars, moths, holly berries, and blackberries.
Behaviors:
Miscellaneous:
Habitat: The Gray catbird can be found in most of the contiguous United States during the summer. It also may spend the winter in Mexico. Gray catbirds live in open woods in thick bushes. Female catbirds build nests made of twigs, straw, bark, and mud. They are lined with grass, hair, and pine needles. They build these nests in the low branches of thick bushes or vines.
Diet: Gray catbirds primarily eat insects. They also eat fruit when they can find it. Some staples of their diet include: ants, beetles, grasshoppers, midges, caterpillars, moths, holly berries, and blackberries.
Behaviors:
- They fly low and for short distances
- Aggressive behavior includes puffing up feathers, displaying the tail, and opening the beak
- The song of the catbird is often a random grouping of notes. The call sounds like a cat, the source of its name.
Miscellaneous:
- No other North American bird has the uniform gray plumage of the catbird