Catbirds and mockingbirds are two types of songbirds that are commonly found across North America. Though they occupy similar habitats and have some overlapping physical features, there are distinct differences between the two species that allow keen birders to tell them apart.
Range and Habitat
The gray catbird and northern mockingbird have overlapping ranges across much of the eastern and central United States and parts of southern Canada. Both species thrive in habitats that provide a mix of dense, low vegetation and some taller shrubs or small trees, including:
- Thickets
- Hedges
- Orchards
- Parks
- Backyards
- Forest edges
However, there are some key differences in their preferred habitats:
- Catbirds tend to prefer wetter areas like damp thickets, swampy edges, and riparian corridors.
- Mockingbirds tolerate drier habitats like scrublands, open woodlots, and desert washes.
So while there may be overlap, a mockingbird is more likely to be found in an open orchard or desert scrubland than a catbird is.
Physical Features
Both catbirds and mockingbirds are medium-sized songbirds with long tails, slender bills, and gray plumage. However, careful observation reveals distinguishing physical features:
Size and Shape
- Catbirds are slightly smaller and slimmer than mockingbirds.
- A mockingbird has a longer tail and wings compared to its body size.
- A catbird has a rounder head and body shape compared to the mockingbird’s more angular profile.
Plumage
- Catbirds are a solid, dark slate gray color over most of their body, with a black cap and tail.
- Mockingbirds have paler gray plumage on their undersides, and darker gray on their backs. Their wings have white patches that are visible in flight.
Bill and Legs
- The catbird bill is all black.
- The mockingbird has a two-tone bill, with a dark upper mandible and pale lower mandible.
- Catbird legs are blackish.
- Mockingbird legs are darker gray.
Song and Calls
The songs and call notes of catbirds and mockingbirds also offer helpful identification clues:
Song
- The mockingbird has a renowned and extensive song repertoire, capable of mimicking other birds and sounds.
- Catbirds sing more simple melodies of slurred musical phrases, lacking clear mimcry.
Calls
- Catbirds give a distinctive, nasal “mew” call very similar to a cat’s cry.
- Mockingbirds make sharper, quicker call notes like “phee-eur” and “tew.”
These differences in voice can help identify the two species by ear without even seeing the bird.
Behavior
Observing mockingbirds and catbirds in action reveals further differences in habits and lifestyle:
Foraging and Feeding
- Mockingbirds forage on open ground, running and hopping as they chase insects. Catbirds tend to hop in dense undergrowth.
- Mockingbirds are more likely to feed on berries and fruits in trees and shrubs. Catbirds feed mostly on insects caught in heavy cover.
Movement
- Mockingbirds are more active and agile, with swooping flights from perch to perch. Catbirds make shorter fluttering flights close to cover.
- Mockingbirds frequently shake open their wings and fan their tails. Catbirds rarely do.
Nesting
- Mockingbirds nest in trees, shrubs, and sometimes on human structures. Catbirds nest exclusively in dense low vegetation.
- Catbird nests are bulky, loose tangles of vegetation in thick cover. Mockingbird nests are neat, compact cups of twigs.
Temperament
- Mockingbirds are bold, territorial, and aggressive, chasing away other birds, animals, and people. Catbirds are shy and secretive.
- Catbirds usually stay low in heavy cover. Mockingbirds perch conspicuously atop trees, posts, or wires.
Identification Tips
Here are some quick tips for distinguishing mockingbirds from catbirds in the field:
- Look for tail flashes – mockingbirds frequently fan their tails open, catbirds rarely do.
- Note the bill color – all black on a catbird, two-tone on a mockingbird.
- Listen for cat-like mewing calls – these indicate a catbird.
- Watch foraging style – mockingbirds cover open ground, catbirds hop through dense thickets.
- Note overall behavior – mockingbirds are bold and aggressive, catbirds are shy and reclusive.
Interesting Facts
Here are some additional interesting facts about mockingbirds versus catbirds:
Mockingbird Facts
- Northern mockingbirds can mimic over 200 different sounds, including other bird songs, insect calls, frog croaks, and even artificial sounds like cell phone ringtones.
- They sing throughout the day and sometimes late into the night during breeding season. Their name comes from their ability to mock or mimic other sounds.
- Mockingbirds are famous for vigorously defending their nests and territories, swooping at and pecking potential threats.
- They can recognize individual people or animals that they perceive as threats and will target them specifically when defending their territory.
Catbird Facts
- The gray catbird gets its name from its distinct cat-like mewing call, which sounds very similar to a crying kitten.
- Catbirds build an unusual bulky nest of leaves, twigs, vines, paper, and feathers, often decorating the exterior with bits of shed snakeskin.
- Male and female catbirds may practice “female mimicry,” with the male copying the movements and sounds of the female when collecting nest material or incubating eggs.
- Catbirds vibrate their tails to generate a buzzing, mechanical-sounding song. They can mimic the songs of up to 35 other species.
Seasonal Timeline
The annual life cycles of mockingbirds and catbirds also show some key differences in timing:
Event | Mockingbird | Catbird |
---|---|---|
Spring Migration | Late March – Mid May | Mid April – Late May |
Breeding Season | Late April – August | May – July |
Nest Building | Late April – June | May – June |
Egg Laying | Early May – Mid July | Late May – Late June |
Fledging of Young | Late May – Early August | Late June – Late July |
Fall Migration | August – November | August – October |
This table illustrates that mockingbirds tend to follow a timeline that is 2-4 weeks earlier than catbirds throughout the breeding season and migration periods.
Conclusion
Although mockingbirds and catbirds share some physical and behavioral traits, a keen observer can distinguish these species by noticing key differences in habitat, plumage, vocalizations, movement patterns, nesting preferences, and seasonal timelines. Understanding these subtleties takes practice, but being able to positively differentiate between species is one of the satisfactions of becoming an expert birder.