Grey Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus, 1766) 10800
Family: Passeriformes > Mimidae

A small, grey, thrush-sized bird with a dark cap, this extremely rare visitor from North America (where it is one of the commonest migrants) is named for its distinctive mewling call.

While many are migrant, wintering around the Gulf of Mexico coast and on various Caribbean Islands, populations along the Atlantic coast are resident, which may explain the very small number of British records.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Grey Catbird

  • Breeding
  • Winter
176 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
176 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

SEASONALITY

Grey Catbird is a very rare vagrant. These records relate to one well-watched individual.

Weekly occurence of Grey Catbird from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Grey Catbird, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

BIOMETRICS

Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Cathaderyn Llwyd
Catalan: mim gris
Czech: drozdec cernohlavý
Danish: Kattedrossel
Dutch: Katvogel
Estonian: kass-pilalind
Finnish: naukumatkija
French: Moqueur chat
German: Katzenspottdrossel
Hungarian: macskamadár
Icelandic: Kattfugl
Irish: Catéan Liath
Italian: Uccello gatto capinero
Latvian: kaku putns
Lithuanian: katine pamegda
Norwegian: Kattespottefugl
Polish: przedrzezniacz ciemny
Portuguese: pássaro-gato
Slovak: drozdec macací
Slovenian: sivi oponašalec
Spanish: Pájaro gato gris
Swedish: grå kattfågel

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