Click image to view larger
The day we planted blueberry bushes is the very same day the catbirds began to call our garden home. We now see Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) throughout the seasons, devouring the seeds and fruit of holly, crabapple, winterberry, magnolia, blueberry, and shad. Their cat-like cries, which lends the species their common name, are welcome and often heard. Gray Catbirds are in the Mimidae Family and, like their relatives the Mockingbirds, also mimic the songs of other birds.
Although I have read that catbirds are shy, they seem relatively sociable in our garden and aren’t threatened by the presence of people within close proximity. We keep the bird baths filled with fresh clean water and I especially love to watch the catbirds from our kitchen window as they are so exuberant in their bathing habits–diving and splashing and then drying their wings at the edge of the basin. Oh Joyous Spring!
Good Morning Gloucester 
These are great photos! Catbirds are favorites of mine. We have a lot of them here in Michigan. They love oranges and grape jelly. They often nest in our blue spruce trees.
LikeLike
Thanks Ann for your always kind comments. Great tip about the fruit and that they nest in your blue spruces. I am thinking about planting blue spruces at a clients–all the more reason!!
LikeLike
SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Our bird baths get so much action! xo Honey
LikeLike
Great photos, Kim. That Catbird is delighted with his bath!
LikeLike
Thanks Linda. He stayed for about ten minutes, repeatedly diving and splashing–would have made a fun time lapse video, too.
LikeLike
Your own very show from the window or sitting outside…One thing I remember about that way from 60’s was all the birdbaths in Cape Ann – they also get the bugs from there for food…:-) Dave
LikeLike
True, and the dragonflies perch nearby as well, also devouring the tiny insects attracted to the water.
LikeLike
Like those pesky skeeters:-)
LikeLike