Serenaded By a Cat …

… Bird! While kayaking yesterday morning, I happened across a Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) sitting atop one of the trees along the bank. As I slowly paddled closer, he was very cooperative and continued to serenade me. Here are a few images I captured of this beautiful bird:

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

 

As can be seen in one of the above images, the tell-tale identification of this bird is the inconspicuous reddish-brown undertail patch, that is often difficult to see.  Another identifying factor is the thin black cap on his head.

The Gray Catbird’s song setlist includes a series of whistled sounds and notes, interspersed with it’s namesake, a catlike “meew”. To me, this bird has a similar repertoire of calls as does the Northern Mockingbird … except for the cat call. I see the Gray Catbird occasionally while I kayak, but they are typically high in the trees and the gray color helps to hide them in the shadows of the tree leaves.

 

 

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