Bird
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensisAlso known as Grey Catbird
Gray Catbirds are slate-gray songbirds with black caps, long tails, and a rusty patch beneath the tail. They forage inside dense shrubs and deliver varied songs that often include a distinctive mewing call.
songbirdshrub thicketmimic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBeetles, caterpillars, ants
Predators
- hawks
- owls
- domestic cats
ThreatsWindow collisions, free-roaming cats, pesticide exposure, and removal of dense cover
HabitatsDense thickets, woodland edges, streamside shrubs, gardens, and regenerating clearings
Life spanUsually several years, with exceptional wild birds living beyond fifteen years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMimidae
- GenusDumetella
- SpeciesDumetella carolinensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Let hidden birds remain in cover and avoid crowding active nests.
Responsible observation
- Listen: A nasal mew often identifies a bird concealed in thick shrubs.
- Identify: Look for a black cap and chestnut undertail patch on an otherwise gray bird.
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