This year our catbird friend and partner seem to have a nest in a low-growing holly close to our favorite lunch spot. I continue to leave grapes with hopes that some are shared with a mate or offspring. But much to our surprise, a crumbled chocolate cookie led to the discovery that catbirds, at least our catbirds, far prefer cookie crumbs to grapes (see picture for evidence)! And given a choice, they prefer chocolate cookie crumbs to crumbs from a chocolate chip cookie. This, of course, has totally endeared them to us and means no lunch is complete without a cookie or two because, of course, there must be enough to provide crumbs.
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By early November, the catbirds will once again head south to spend the winter along the Gulf Coast from Florida through Texas and down to Central America and the Caribbean. They will be missed! Not only are catbirds fun to listen to, but they are a lovely Thrush-like songbird with beautiful slate gray plumage. If you look closely, you will also see their black cap, straight black bill, blackish tail, and bright cinnamon undertail coverts. No other eastern songbird is this color.
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The Gray Catbird belongs to the genus “Dumetella”, which means “small thicket” and that’s exactly where you should look for them. So when you hear a rich rambling warble with distinctive meowing and sharp chips thrown in for effect, look closely and make your acquaintance with this lovely creature. They are probably in your garden! They forage on the ground and in low shrubs and nest between 5 and 10 feet above the ground, making your chances of spotting them highly likely. They don’t like flying across wide open spaces and don’t like to sit in the tops of trees.
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Thankfully, the Gray Catbird population is stable, enhancing your opportunities to have one join you for lunch!
