Songs
Male Gray Catbirds sing a long, halting series of short notes; one whole song can last many minutes. Sounds include whistles, squeaks, gurgles, whines, and nasal tones. The notes often are imitations of other birds as well as of frogs and mechanical sounds. The series of sounds is random, but certain notes are often repeated. Catbirds don’t repeat syllables as many times in a row as Northern Mockingbirds do. Females sing infrequently, and when they do, their songs are sung more quietly.
Backyard Tips
To attract Gray Catbirds, plant shrubs in areas of your yard near young deciduous trees. Catbirds also love fruit, so you can entice them with plantings of native fruit-bearing trees and shrubs such as dogwood, winterberry, and serviceberry.
Find This Bird
Listen for the distinctive mew call of the Gray Catbird, or for its imitation of several species during a long, seemingly improvised series of notes. When the male is singing, look for him at the top of a dense, tangled thicket. Gray Catbirds will also often come to investigate if you make a "pishing" sound when they are in the area.
Get Involved
Visit our NestWatch website to learn how to find nests, observe nesting activity, and report the results
Enhance the beauty of your yard and attract more wildlife. Visit our pages on landscaping for birds.