The gray catbird might be the most aptly named bird species on the planet. It is certainly a bird. Looking at it, no one would mistake it for a cat. Hearing it is a little different. The catbird has a ...

Several years ago, I was awakened nearly every day of late spring by a recurring — and very loud — bird sound. I say “sound,” rather than “song,” because this particular noise was not so melodious as ...

Perhaps the best description of the catbird is “uniformly gray” – but only in appearance. Certainly not in vocalization. The catbird has a remarkable repertoire, including the familiar mewing noises ...

The early morning boat ride up the Milk River was long and cool for a late summer day. When we came to our destination, I heard a familiar bird call from the dense shrubbery on the riverbanks. It wasn ...

The catbirds arrived a couple weeks ago and haven’t been quiet since they landed. They are cousins with mockingbirds and brown thrashers, and all three species are known as mimics because they imitate ...

It’s a rare summer that goes by without me writing a column about catbirds. Aside from robins they are perhaps the dominant songbird of a New England summer. At my new home, Chipping Sparrows may give ...

Several years ago, I was awakened nearly every day of late spring by a recurring – and very loud – bird sound. I say “sound,” rather than “song” because this particular noise was not so melodious as ...