Gray Catbird – Neskonlith, BC

This Gray Catbird along Shuswap Road near Chase, British Columbia sat curiously watching from the fence. The soft gray plumage, dark cap, and rusty undertail patch stood out as the bird perched briefly on a fence wire before disappearing back into cover. Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) are members of the mimic thrush family. They call quietly from the dense undergrowth with a “mew” call, also imitating other birds and sounds. This species prefers brushy edges, wetlands, and overgrown rural areas where it feeds on insects, berries, and fruit throughout the warmer months. One interesting fact about Gray Catbirds is that they remove Brown-headed Cowbird eggs from their nests. This helps protect their young from brood parasitism. They are among the few North American songbirds to do this. We often found that quiet backroads near Chase produced excellent opportunities for observing species like this. This is true especially during early morning birding sessions similar to those experienced on birding tours our guides give.