A gray catbird with a black cap perched among leaves. — Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

A sleek gray backyard songbird, cousin of the mockingbird, named for its cat-like 'meow' call.

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About the Gray Catbird

Gray catbirds are 8 to 9 inches long, smaller and slimmer than a robin. They are soft gray with a black cap and rusty feathers under the tail. They live in thick, low plants in backyards, parks and old farms across the warmer parts of North America and winter in tropical forests. They eat mostly berries and insects and sometimes raid gardens for raspberries and strawberries.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Dumetella carolinensis^[1]
Size: 8 to 9 inches long.^[1]
Lifespan: About 2.5 years in the wild.^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Mostly berries and insects.^[1]
Habitat: Dense, low shrubs in suburbs, forest edges and old farmland; tropical forests in winter.^[1]
Where it lives: Warmer parts of North America; winters farther south.^[1]
Group life: Pairs in the breeding season. Most active at dawn and dusk.^[1]
Babies: 3 to 5 turquoise eggs, 2 or 3 clutches a season.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025).^[2]

Fun facts

Catbirds are named for their meowing call.^[1]
Their genus name means 'little thicket.'^[1]
Catbirds often peck off more fruit than they can eat.^[1]

Vocabulary

mimic: To copy the sounds or looks of something else.
thicket: A thick tangle of bushes or small trees.
omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Gray catbird.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/gray-catbird (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Dumetella carolinensis (Grey Catbird).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22711013/137508094 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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