Detailed information on Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

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susancarroll

Chardon, OH | July 2018 | Neutral

6 days ago I thought I spyed a cat bird around the blueberry bushes, the berries were still green. 5 days ago I had an entire flock of cat birds in the bushes. I use pond (koi fish) netting on all my berries and rotate them around as each fruit finishes. 1st strawberries, early, mid and late blueberries, blackberries and then the grapes. Works much better then bird netting, smaller holes for webbing and slippery too. Branches and berries can't grow thru the webbing so I am destroying less product when I uncover to pick. 1st day, the birds were gathered all over the netting mad as heck for at least an hour after I put it up. One bird got under the netting and had to be released. I anchor it to the ground with tent stakes. Have used the same netting for 5 years now. Fold up at the end o... read more

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labellaflora

Yorba Linda, CA | June 2018 | Neutral

Just a note to people stating that the birds are taking their berries: you could designate a bush just for the birds to take, thereby helping them, and putting bird netting over the other bushes.

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j3maloney

Elsmere, DE | June 2018 | Negative

While this is a beautiful bird, I have a grudge against it. Every year, my black raspberry bushes get completely stripped of ripe fruit. I usually get only two days of fruit. They are not the least bit shy and sit on my fence laughing at me. Netting doesn't work because it gets stuck on the canes. I'm trying rubber snakes and scare tape this year but I don't think I'll get more than another couple of days harvest.

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SoooSirius

Municipality of Murrysville, PA | June 2018 | Positive

These birds love a suet feeder. They're a little skittish, but love to chirp and sing from a place hidden deep in the foliage shadows. I have attracted a singing male by playing a recording of another singing male on my phone. They do not seem to be very aggressive to other birds

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candyinpok

Mid-Hudson Valley, NY (Zone 5b) | June 2018 | Neutral

These birds nest in my bushes every spring and raise their young on my blueberries. I'm not crazy about that idea, but since they feed their young on insects, they do have a beneficial role to play.

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HappyHavens

North Port, FL | April 2016 | Positive

I have Catbirds in my yard all winter long. Normally they are shy. But this year added a brush pile next to the mulberry tree. There has been about 15 Catbirds that now rule my yard. They come out to see what I am doing and love grapes.

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tmaslanka

Ardmore, PA | July 2012 | Positive

These birds visit my garden every year and have quite a personality. There is a mulberry tree next to my deck which they love. After the berries are gone I tried other fruit. They ate all of my patio blueberries. Then I put out some raisins and I made a friend for life. The robins eat them also. But in the morning and evening they can either see or here me and they fly in front of the sliding door. Telling me I'm here where are my raisins ? Once i put a raisin on the table 4 feet from me and he came a got it. And they do have a beautiful sound besides the meowing.

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patriciaarln

Arlington, VA | July 2012 | Positive

There are several catbirds in my neighborhood in the summer, and they have become favorites of mine. I believe they are predominantly insect-eaters. I never see them at my seed or suet feeders. But when I mow the lawn or plant something, one catbird will stay practically on top of me, keeping me company. I suspect he/she is looking for earthworms or other insects I may flush out. My catbirds are definitely NOT shy! I look for them every year now. They seem to arrive at about the same time as the lightning bugs.

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Clary

Lewisburg, PA (Zone 6b) | June 2012 | Neutral

We have recently had a pair of nesting catbirds on our property.

I have never heard the cat mewing call, only a squeaky almost mechanical warbling that sounds like a poor imitation of a robin.

These birds are not at all shy in my experience. They perch on a high fencepost and dive at literally anything that comes near its nest; included in its territory are both of my birdbaths and nectar flowers. The catbirds have dived at me while I am filling the bath and they vigorously chase every other bird of any species. Traffic at the bird bath has significantly declined due to these bullies.

The only positives I can find in having these birds around is that at times there were too many birds in the baths, mainly house sparrows; they would come by th... read more

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rabbitsdiner

Carmel, IN | September 2011 | Positive

My experience with catbirds is more to the humorous side. A pair nests by my garden pavilion. They believe the structure to be their own. They strongly object to my use of it. They become quite loud when I come around. I have named them Madge and Larry because I often hear one of them calling in a harsh voice of an overbearing woman. It sounds for all the world like she is calling "Larry!...Larry!!" . I think Larry is hiding ;-).

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jeda

Kenosha, WI | May 2011 | Positive

The Gray Catbird is one of my favorite warm weather feathered guests. I've had these around my house for the last 19 years. They have always hung out in the trees and brush along the rairoad tracks. That is till this year. Initially I identified them by their namesake. I heard them and went looking for what I thought was an abandoned kitten by the railroad tracks. Then (after much patience ) I saw fleeting glimces of them. I love their varied song. It was just yesterday, May 19, 2011, that I got a real treat of just how varied their calling is. For some unknown reason to me the Catbirds have lost their shyness this year and have been up by the house. Two of them, M and FM I presume. I have been able to get I really good look at them. To me they are beautiful, like their song... read more

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SaberLily

Winchester, VA (Zone 7a) | June 2010 | Positive

MaryJI: Yes, as a matter of fact catbirds do have a beautiful, melodious song other than the catlike mewling.

They're difficult to spot, but the mewling cry is unmistakeable.

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MaryJI

Franklin, TN | May 2010 | Positive

Do any of you know if catbirds make calls that don't sound like a cat mewing? We were in Gatlinburg this week and saw a bird that looked a lot like the ones in the pictures posted here. However, it had a beautiful song that sounded like the bird was singing for joy.

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plantladylin

(Zone 1) | April 2010 | Positive

I love this bird! We've had more Gray Catbirds this year than I can ever remember ... large flocks that are visiting the feeders as well as devouring the Japanese Plums/Loquat fruit on the many trees in my neighbors yard. At first they seemed pretty shy and elusive, now they are everywhere and don't always fly off when I'm in the yard. Today one even perched on the edge of a birdbath within three feet of me, watching me. It stayed there for quite a long time and seemed curious about the beep on the camera when I was focusing to take it's picture.

My Florida Bird book says they are most abundant during migration but also nest sporadically in the northern part of the state. It also says they have secretive habits and are more often heard than seen. I'm seeing them flying in ... read more

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nanny_56

Putnam County, IN (Zone 5b) | May 2009 | Positive

They come to the table I have set up for the Baltimore Orioles. They love red grapes and grape jelly!

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IrisLover79

Westchester, IL (Zone 5b) | May 2009 | Positive

They really do sound exactly like a cat. I remember the first time I saw one of these birds. I was in the forest preserve & heard the sound of a cat mewing from the bushes. I looked all around for the cat & was confused why this gray bird kept hopping around by me, when there was a cat around. Did he want to be lunch or was he protecting a nest from the cat? Then, as I was looking directly at the bird, it turned its head, meowed & flew off. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone, LOL! I had to laugh when I read the bird's name in my field guide. ;D

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wormfood

Lecanto, FL (Zone 9a) | January 2009 | Positive

A private (shy) bird. Before the sun goes down they have a call that sounds like a kitten crying from in the bushes.

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

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