Gray Catbird

birds · mimics · North America

Sounds like a cat. The gray catbird gets its name because it makes loud, harsh calls that sound exactly like a cat meowing. This unusual sound helps it stand out from other birds in its family.

Master mimic bird. Like other mimids, the gray catbird is brilliant at copying sounds it hears around it. It can imitate other birds, animals, and even noises from its environment to communicate with other catbirds.

Found in two continents. Gray catbirds live across North America and Central America, making their homes in bushes and trees where they can hide and hunt for insects and berries.

Special bird family member. It is the only bird in its entire genus called Dumetella, which makes it pretty unique. It is more closely related to Caribbean thrashers and tremblers than to mockingbirds.

Goes by different names. In some places, people call the gray catbird a slate-colored mockingbird because of its gray feathers and talent for copying sounds, even though it is its own special kind of bird.