Scientific name:  Dumetella Carolinensis

Description-Identification:  The Gray Catbird is a slim all gray bird.  It has a black cap and chestnut under tail.  The tail is long and black.  The female is very similar to the male but a little paler.  This bird is 9" in length with wingspread of 11-12"

Habitat and Range:  Woodlands, undergrowth, shrubby, marsh borders, hedge-rows, and gardens.  Breeds from British Columbia east to Nova Scotia, south to Oregon, East Arizona, North Texas, and Georgia.  Winters from Southeast Texas and Southeast Virginia.

Feeding:  The gray catbird's diet is about 50% fruit and berries.  The other 50% is insects.  Catbirds sometimes visit feeding stations in search of dried berries and other things.

Nesting:  Built in dense thickets, briars, vine tangles, shrubs, and low trees. Typically well concealed by foliage 3-10 ft. above the ground.  Built by both sexes (mostly female) in 5-6 days.

Voice:  The song is like a cat's meow.  It will often sing at night.  They may imitate calls of jays, kingfishers, swallows, grosbeaks, and many other songbirds.