Gray Catbird Photo Study

Gray Catbirds are found across much of North America, but kind of thin out heading west through the Rocky Mountains. In the southwestern states, they are still on review species lists. My patch is the most consistent and hosts the greatest numbers of Gray Catbirds that I know of in Idaho, but there's not a lot of public catbird talk to help me gauge this. 

I've been on a quest to get some decent photos of Gray Catbirds. With the help of a Swarovski ATX 85mm spotting scope, I found it much easier this year. Knowing where a couple catbirds like to perch and sing, I arrived right at sunrise and concealed myself in camo netting obtained in the Walmart toy section. I didn't have to wait for more than a minute when the singing and meowing began. I got so many images in ten minutes that I've turned this post into a photo study and observation to learn more about the subtle beauty of the Gray Catbird.

Wren-like striping on the underside of tail feathers (I've never noticed that before!) Gotta love that rust-colored vent.

Lighter gray throat feathers with darker underlying feathers or feather bases. (I hadn't known that before either.)

Slick-backed black cap. Toupe-like.

There was such a rapid lower bill movement when it was singing that very few of my photos were not blurred.

Dark gape (inside mouth) and big beady black eye-ball. Some images reveal rictal bristles like those of a flycatcher. (I had never noticed those whiskers before either.)

Then there was some preening...a couple of seconds of vigorous dog-like spinning and shaking. Is that a brood patch feather opening at the belly?

 If you look close you can see a bit of down at the tip of the bill. What a gorgeous bird!