Adult Gray Catbird in a snowberry bush – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This morning I’m grateful that I spotted a single Gray Catbird pop up on top of a snowberry bush yesterday morning because if I hadn’t none of the following photos would have been possible. When the Gray Catbird was in my viewfinder I thought I would get a few images of it perched on the bush, that it would fly off or take cover and that would be the end of the story.
I was wrong. What followed after this photo was the most fun I have had photographing Gray Catbirds in quite some time! I took a nice series of the catbird on the bush and then it flew directly towards me.
Adult Gray Catbird portrait – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The catbird landed on a fence so close that the only thing I could do without taking off my teleconverter was take portraits of it.
I’m not grumbling about how close the Gray Catbird came to me, it is the opposite of that. I am over the moon when I can take portraits of wild birds that come this close to me because portraits often show fine feather details that photos taken from further away can’t show as well.
I was practically purring as I took one portrait after another of the adult Gray Catbird perched on the fence.
Gray Catbird perched in a snowberry bush – Nikon D500, f8, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The catbird stayed on the fence long enough for me to satisfy my desire for portraits and then flew off to the top of another part of the snowberry bush. It was at this time that I noticed another catbird down on the ground below it. I wasn’t sure what the second catbird was up to but since I had grasses between it and myself I put my focus back on the catbird that was in plain view.
Back view of an adult Gray Catbird – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And took photos of its back side when it moved to another part of the bushes. I thought part of the barbed wire fence might ruin this series of images but I must have been able to avoid having the fence in the frame.
Adult Gray Catbird on a lichen topped fence post – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
After a few seconds the Gray Catbird took flight and landed on a fence post lightly topped with lichens where the light was so wonderful that its rufous undertail coverts seemed to glow. I was really pleased too that all the trees and vegetation were so far away from the bird that I could tell I was going to have a pleasing background in the images I took of the bird.
Gray Catbird keeping watch from a fence post – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Then the catbird flew to the top of another nearby fence post. I was twisted so that I could aim my lens behind me at this time and my legs were cramping but I kept right on photographing the striking gray bird.
Curious look from an adult Gray Catbird – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I felt like the catbird was giving me and my lens a curious look when I took this photo but it may well have been looking at something else. In fact, I am fairly certain it was.
Adult Gray Catbird fluttering its wings – Nikon D500, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Because the Gray Catbird seemed to get excited, it raised its tail, dropped its wings a bit and then started to quickly flutter them. I really wish I had been able to take still images and video simultaneously at about this time so I could show the catbird’s wings fluttering.
An excited adult Gray Catbird – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The catbird seemed to get even more excited and turned its head towards me, lifted its tail higher and opened its bill. I honestly can’t recall if the catbird was calling or not while its bill was open and what happened next seems to have erased that information from my brain.
Two adult Gray Catbirds interacting – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A second Gray Catbird flew in and landed on the fence post to the left of the first catbird and they seemed agitated with each other. I was firing a burst at this time and what follows took place so quickly that I barely saw it through my viewfinder. This photo and the four that follow are in sequential order…
One adult Gray Catbird kicking another catbird – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Gray Catbird that flew in and landed on the post raised its right foot and pressed it against the flank of the first catbird…
Gray Catbird kicking another catbird – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Jumped up and used its foot to push the first catbird…
Gray Catbird kicking another catbird off of a fence post – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Causing the first catbird to lose its balance…
Gray Catbird falling from a fence post – Nikon D500, f8, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And as the first catbird fell off the fence post it took flight. I had to laugh out loud when I viewed this series of images on my larger screen at home. This interaction transpired so rapidly that I just saw a blur between the shutter moving in the viewfinder screen.
Adult Gray Catbird seeking cover in a Serviceberry bush – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, -0.3 EV, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
So what happened after the victorious Gray Catbird kicked the first catbird off of the fence?
An American Robin flew in and chased the victor off of the fence post! I just had to laugh about that. More about the robin in another post because this story on these images has gotten long enough already.
This photo shows the vanquished Gray Catbird taking shelter in a serviceberry shrub away from the robin that usurped its position on the fence post.
Agitated Gray Catbird calling from a Serviceberry – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, -0.3 EV, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I do recall the Gray Catbird calling from the safety of the serviceberry bush. I took photos of the Gray Catbirds for eleven action-packed, thrilling minutes.
I am ecstatic that I found the Gray Catbird on top of the snowberry bush yesterday morning. The catbird interactions that followed were just so much fun to photograph that it ought to be illegal.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Gray Catbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a fascinating study of Catbird behavior! Your photos and commentary are just plain wonderful. I guess that invasive Robin can truthfully say, “(Now)…look who’s sitting in the Catbirds seat!”
Mia, love the photos. You’ve captured the beauty of this Catbird. Thanks for your loyalty to your birds and readers…a lucky bunch of us.
A beautiful series of a bright, lively bird…a great ventrilogist…and one of my favorite birds…
What an INCREDIBLE series. A delight for you and for us.
Many, many thanks.
What a fun post today! 🙂 Thank you so much! The colors of the snowberry and the bokeh are the perfect backdrop (and in one case, frontdrop) for the Grey Catbird. The kerfuffle on top of the post is really something as well — it reminds me of some of the old Looney Toons. 🙂
what a fun series!
Mia, these are so wonderful! Do you think it could be a failed mating attempt or merely aggression for the post? I absolutely love the photo with the catbird hiding it’s head under the leaf.
Outstanding series of beautiful images! The sequence of photos combined with story behind them are very nicely done. Thanks for sharing.
What a great series, and a real treat for you to witness it. Thanks for brightening my day too.
WHAT A CAPTURE OF THE CAT BIRD. The series was entertaining and I loved it. Top Job as always.
What a great way to start my morning. We don’t have these gray beauties over here. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful series of photos you got. OMGosh! The photo of the 2nd Gray Catbird with its foot up against the flank of the first Gray Catbird is fantastic. What a sight to see but also to get photos.
Great photos! You are an inspiration!
Needed that laugh! Catbirds are special though can be shy here. Great captures, as always Mia. Thank you!
This was a fun series captured beautifully. Thank you!!