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Gray Catbird

(Dumetella carolinensis)

Size             :  7 3/4  inches long

Description      : Difficult to observe because of their ability as ventriloquists and their liking of tangled shrubbery.
                   Look for a bird with long tail, dark gray in color, with black cap and rusty undertail.
                   
Preferred Habitat: Wet or dry thickets, hedges. They love water and are 'addicted' to bathing.

Preferred food   : Insects, fruit, berriessuch as raspberries, blackberries, grapes and elderberries.
                   They will come to feeders for raisins(especially steamed ones), suet, walnut meats,
                   cheese, apples, currants, and oranges.

Breeding Range   : Nova Scotia west to British Columbia, south to eastern Oregon and northern Utah to east Texas
                   and south to Gulf states, except Florida. 

Winter Range     : Coastal areas  from Long Island south to Florida, the Gulf States and Mexico.

Interesting Facts: Like the mockingbird, the Gray Catbird is regarded as a mimic. Rather than copying the song of another,
                   though, it suggests it, never delivering it quite the same way.
                   It gets its name from its cat-like call, 'mew'. Other sounds are 'chuck', 'chatter', and 'kak-kak-kak'. 
                   Their preferred nest site is normally not more than 10 feet from the ground, in a well-protected thicket,
                   but nests have been seen as high up as 60 feet. They raise 2 - 3 broods per season.