50birds Home
 
  Bird Houses     Feeders     Martin Houses
Baths     Fountains     Chimes     Nature Shop

 

 

 

Catbird
 

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Mimidae
Genus: Dumetella
Species: carolinensis

La. passer  sparrow, small bird
La. forma  form, kind, species
La. mimus  mimic, actor
La. dumetum  a thicket
La. carolinensis  of Carolina

 
 
Catbird, F. C. Hennessey

F.C. Hennessey

About nine inches long. Dark slate gray upper parts. Dull black crown and tail. Underside slate gray. Long erect tail, chestnut underneath.
 

USGS Catbird Map
 

Abundant in the eastern and northwestern U.S. and in Canada, north to British Columbia, Hudson Bay and Nova Scotia. Winters in the southern U.S., Central America and the Caribbean. Likes brushy woods, swampy thickets, and frequents farms, towns and gardens.

Builds loosely woven nests of twigs, grass, leaves, bark and roots lined with fine grass in bushes, vines and low trees usually less than ten feet high.

Lays three to six deep bluish green eggs. Frequently raise two broods.

Catbird Nest, A. R. Dugmore

Catbird Nest, A. R. Dugmore

Runs along the ground. Hunts ants, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders and caterpillars.

Catches moths, flies and other flying insects on the wing. Also likes many fruits, which make up a significant part of its diet.

Intelligent bird, friendly to humans.   Likes baths and loves to preen its feathers. A mocking bird, its varying melodies follow no discipline and it will imitate birds, frogs, cats, chickens, cartwheels and humans calling to it and it has a harsh cry like the mewing of a cat. 

Neighboring catbirds gather to drive away intruders with loud, obnoxious cries and if a brood is orphaned will feed and raise them.

A USGS research center web site and an older version of an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation brochure included Catbirds and Thrashers as users of platforms.

The original brochure said: "These birds will use the nesting platform when natural nesting sites are unavailable. The platforms should be placed in partial shade along main branches of trees or under the eaves of a shed or porch roof."  

In 1993, Catbirds and Thrashers were deleted from the brochure because of a lack of documentation. 

However, Gilbert H. Trafton, the author of "Bird Friends", 1916, recommended platforms open on all four sides for Thrashers, Catbirds and Song Sparrows.   See Platform Discussion

Catbird, Robert Bruce Horsfall, A Year with the Birds, Alice E. Ball, 1916

Robert Bruce Horsfall

You may be more likely to attract a Robin, Dove or Phoebe, but if anyone has witnessed Catbirds or Thrashers in a platform structure, I would like to know the details.     Resources

Catbird Song, F. Schuyler Mathews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Extinct Animals       Endangered Wildlife      Endangered Wild Cats      Endangered Turtles      Endangered Alligators

 Extinct Birds        Endangered Birds          Birds of the World         Bird Nests         Baby Birds         Bird Art       Bats!  


 

Print Free Bird Platform Plans

 

Covered Platform For Robins, Phoebes and Blue Jays             Covered Platform for Mourning Doves, Robins, Phoebes and Blue Jays

 

Covered Platform for Eastern, Say's and Black Phoebes             Open Platform for Robins, Phoebes, Mourning Doves and Blue Jays

Barn Swallow Ledge with Gable Roof            Barn Swallow Ledge

 

18 Birds that Nest on Platforms             55 Birds that Nest in Boxes

 

Birds that Nest in Bird Houses and Platforms in Cities and Towns            Nestboxes For More Thank 50 North American Birds

 

Feeding Birds - Seed, Suet, Fruits, Nectar, Meal Worms, Plants, Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Feeders           Bird-Fruit Chart, Gilbert H. Trafton's List of Birds and Fruits They Eat

 

 

 Coloring Books        Birds        Butterflies         Flowers         Frogs         Lizards         Fish 


 Mammals     Ocean Mammals     Seals & Walrus     Wild Cats      Stone Age     Print Tips 
 

 50birds Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Animal T-Shirts & Apparel   



 

 

 

50birds Home


 

 

 

 


 

  Animal T-Shirts & Apparel

 50birds Home    Extinct Birds    Extinct Animals   Bats

 Coloring Books    Calendars    Coloring Book Calendars

 Bird Lover T-Shirts    Birdhouse Plans    Privacy Policy