365 Urban Species. #128: Gray Catbird

[urbpan]

Photos by cottonmanifesto

Urban species #128: Gray catbird Dumetella carolinensis

The halfway point between Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice passed a week ago, so soon we should cease our obsessive tally of Signs of Spring. But not yet. My partner, Alexis (cottonmanifesto), has been most anxious for one particular sign, and I am happy to report the first catbird of Spring 2006, Boston. I can also report the second through fiftieth, as once this bird arrives in the city, they become among the most common avian residents. Their habit of perching fairly low (around eye-level) and the fact that they tolerate close approaches by humans makes them one of the most observable migratory birds. That is, if you choose to notice it. Being fully dark and mostly gray, and preferring thick shrubs rather than trees to perch in, catbirds may be completely passed by, by busy city people.

My first encounter with a catbird was in a postage stamp sized backyard in the Boston borough of Brighton. On the other side of a rusty chain link fence was a scrubby vacant lot, overgrown with ailanthus, knotweed, and bittersweet. I heard a curious "meow," that was strangely uncatlike. To my surprise, a gray bird with shining black eyes was perched right at the edge of the tangled wire and vines, within an arm's length; We regarded one another for short peaceful moment, before it moved on to its business. From then on I looked forward to visits from this bold yet sneaky neighbor.

The catbird can be seen eating fruit from ornamental shrubs, or turning over leaf litter for insects. At other times it can be heard singing its heart out, in a riot of snippets from other bird's songs. The catbird is in the mockingbird family, but unlike the northern mockingbird, which sings its sampled melodies in repetitions of three, the catbird rapidly blurts unrepeated phrases. The effect is similar to a scat singer, or a jazz soloist. Walking along the muddy river, one can pass by half a dozen of these performances, feathered buskers who never ask for change.

Comments

[paxpan-nyc.livejournal.com]

Who wrote this piece? It is incredibly well done via its unusually visual descriptions. I live in Manhattan and have never experienced a catbird sighting (or hearing). Thanks so much for the photo and interesting information!

Paxdora

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

Catbirds are so cool. I think they're better mockers than mockingbirds. In my old place, I used to listen to one of them, on a cool Spring/Summer Weekend morning, early, work through his repetoire. Most were other bird calls, but then he did a gull and THEN a Canadian Honker!!!

...which was nothing once you heard him try to imitate that varied-siren car alarm!!!!

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

That's the little guy that was haranguing me while I was doing yardwork a couple days ago. Thank you! I thought he seemed somewhat mockingbird-like.

[artemii.livejournal.com]

i love catbirds. through my semi-obsessive reading about bird/human interactions in the northeast in the past hundred years, i have read indications that catbirds used to shy away from people, but that fruit-planted gardens and suet-laden birdfeeding stations seem to have made them increasingly less shy in their behavior in cities and suburbs.

or, as a book put it, "if you have fruit planted in your garden, you've probably already met your local catbird."

[barbmg.livejournal.com]

I saw one in my backyard today! We've got some kind of berry bush out there it was snacking from. I wouldn't have known what it was if not for the wife's lovely photo.

Connecticut Cat Bird

[(Anonymous)]

I have a catbird who follows me around the house, but I'm "inside". He watches me through the window! He or she is hilarious. If he sees movement, even our (indoor) cats get a close-up view of this beautiful and charming bird. He doesn't holler at us, he chirps in a friendly manner. If we go outside, he follows us at a distance of about 5-6 feet. He's not afraid, and we talk to him. Last few years it was a Carolina Wren that followed us and nested outside the backdoor, but we made renovations, so she's gone, but around the yard somewhere.

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