{"id":47056,"date":"2017-06-02T04:44:24","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T10:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=47056"},"modified":"2025-05-31T11:49:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T16:49:43","slug":"gray-catbird-singing-in-a-stand-of-willows-in-the-wasatch-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/06\/02\/gray-catbird-singing-in-a-stand-of-willows-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"Gray Catbird singing in a Stand of Willows in the Wasatch Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GrayGray Catbird singing in a stand of willows – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Gray Catbirds are related to mockingbirds and thrashers and are in the family Mimidae<\/i> and all of them are noted for their vocalizations and their ability to mimic a wide variety of bird songs and calls and human made sounds. Have you ever heard the sound of a car alarm coming from a thicket? It might just be a catbird making all that noise.<\/p>\n

Catbirds have a call that sounds like a kitten or a cat mewing and that sound has fooled people into thinking that there is an abandoned kitten in a thicket when it is really just a slaty gray bird with a black cap and tail and a rufous patch under its tail. Gray Catbirds got their common name from their call<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Male Gray Catbirds can sing up a storm<\/span><\/a> and can sing for as long as 10 minutes or more if they aren’t interrupted. Females do sing but they sing softer and less frequently.<\/p>\n

Two days ago while up in the Wasatch Mountains I heard a bird singing in a stand of willows next to East Canyon Creek and for a few seconds the catbird was up on top and in plain view but as soon as it noticed the vehicle it dove down into the willows. The Gray Catbird kept on singing though which made it easier for me to relocate it and even though it was partially hidden I decided to take a few images of it as it sang.<\/p>\n

I know this image is a departure from my normal photographic style but I liked it anyway because this photo shows how I often see these birds… nearly hidden from my view. They like to be in thickets, dense shrubs and tangles of vines during all seasons of the year which makes them difficult to see and photograph.<\/p>\n

I’m always happy when I get a photograph of this skulking mimic.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Gray Catbird photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gray Catbirds are related to mockingbirds and thrashers and are in the family Mimidae and all of them are noted for their vocalizations and their ability to mimic a wide variety of bird songs and calls and human made sounds. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,3605,4594,26,773],"tags":[4004,4935,6559,6558,3607,5893,3606,5892,5890,821,4179,4735,5891,902],"class_list":["post-47056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-gray-catbirds","category-morgan-county","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-call","tag-catbird","tag-catbirds","tag-dumetella-carolinensis","tag-east-canyon-creek","tag-gray-catbird","tag-mewing","tag-mimics","tag-mimids-2","tag-singing-2","tag-song","tag-thickets","tag-willows"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-singing-mia-mcpherson-4613.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-ceY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52728,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/06\/23\/trio-of-gray-catbird-photos-they-are-the-cats-meow\/","url_meta":{"origin":47056,"position":0},"title":"Trio of Gray Catbird Photos – They are the Cat’s Meow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Gray Catbirds aren't flashy and except for the spot of cinnamon colored feathers under their tails they are mostly an overall gray with a black cap. While their appearance isn't dazzling the variety of songs they sing certainly can be.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gray Catbird shaking its feathers, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-shaking-mia-mcpherson-7847.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-shaking-mia-mcpherson-7847.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-shaking-mia-mcpherson-7847.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-shaking-mia-mcpherson-7847.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":68304,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/04\/12\/my-first-of-year-gray-catbird-heard-but-not-seen\/","url_meta":{"origin":47056,"position":1},"title":"My First Of Year Gray Catbird – Heard But Not Seen","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"On April 2nd in a canyon in some mountains of the West Desert of Utah I heard a familiar call, the mewing call of a Gray Catbird while I was looking for birds to photograph.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Gray Catbird with a berry in its bill, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gray-catbird-adult-twinberry-mia-mcpherson-8877.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gray-catbird-adult-twinberry-mia-mcpherson-8877.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gray-catbird-adult-twinberry-mia-mcpherson-8877.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/gray-catbird-adult-twinberry-mia-mcpherson-8877.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52889,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/07\/03\/gray-catbird-willows-and-sunshine\/","url_meta":{"origin":47056,"position":2},"title":"Gray Catbird, Willows and Sunshine","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I have truly been enjoying being able to photograph Gray Catbirds this spring and summer because they are challenging to get out in the open, because I think they are dashing in appearance and their songs always delight me.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gray Catbird and willows, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-willows-mia-mcpherson-0421.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-willows-mia-mcpherson-0421.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-willows-mia-mcpherson-0421.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-willows-mia-mcpherson-0421.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58171,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/27\/singing-gray-catbird-close-up\/","url_meta":{"origin":47056,"position":3},"title":"Singing Gray Catbird Close Up","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Gray Catbirds have returned to northern Utah for their breeding season and I am thrilled to be hearing their songs and calls again.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Singing Gray Catbird, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-singing-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0932.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-singing-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0932.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-singing-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0932.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-catbird-singing-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0932.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":104614,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/07\/30\/fledgling-gray-catbird-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":47056,"position":4},"title":"Fledgling Gray Catbird Portraits","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning while photographing a male Yellow Warbler I caught some movement with my peripheral vison and saw a young Gray Catbird very close to me.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fledgling Gray Catbird portrait, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/gray-catbird-juvenile-portrait-mia-mcpherson-8991.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/gray-catbird-juvenile-portrait-mia-mcpherson-8991.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/gray-catbird-juvenile-portrait-mia-mcpherson-8991.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/gray-catbird-juvenile-portrait-mia-mcpherson-8991.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53587,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/08\/14\/focusing-on-juvenile-gray-catbirds-learning-to-be-on-their-own\/","url_meta":{"origin":47056,"position":5},"title":"Focusing On Juvenile Gray Catbirds Learning To Be On Their Own","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"It was a lot of fun photographing adult Gray Catbirds earlier this year and photographing the juveniles learning to be on their own has been equally fun and entertaining.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Gray Catbird peeking out of a thicket, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gray-catbird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gray-catbird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gray-catbird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gray-catbird-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}