Gray Catbirds in Wickersham

[Stephen Chase]

This morning's birding adventure included a stop along Innis Creek Road just east of the little community of Wickersham off Highway 9. Last spring, Pauline Sterin found a Gray Catbird at this location, and just a few days ago Phil Wegener refound the bird just about a full year later. I went there this morning looking for it, and instead found two! 

By scientific definition, Gray Catbirds are pretty unique. They belong to the monotypic genus Dumetella, which means they are the only species in their genus and thus have no close relatives. Their family is the mimids, which include mockingbirds and thrashers. Catbirds are both skulky and curious, rarely giving good views despite being quick to respond to any noise. After I had watched them for a little while this morning, I was just  walking away when I sneezed, and that got the male out to check on me. Their song rambles on much like a thrasher's, but you'll know why they are called catbirds when you hear their meow-like calls.

With two birds associating together in a previously known location, this likely constitutes a breeding pair, only the second I know of in the county. The first was a successful breeding attempt last summer in Newhalem. There is also a probable nesting record from 1986 in North Cascades National Park.

If you'd like to see them for yourself, here's where to go.

Another fun morning!

Stephen Chase

[Stephen]

One possible correction: I vaguely remember that it may have been Steven Harper who initially found the catbird last June.

On Jun 19, 2021, at 5:51 PM, Stephen Chase <schas...@gmail.com> wrote:

This morning's birding adventure included a stop along Innis Creek Road just east of the little community of Wickersham off Highway 9. Last spring, Pauline Sterin found a Gray Catbird at this location, and just a few days ago Phil Wegener refound the bird just about a full year later. I went there this morning looking for it, and instead found two! 

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[Steven Harper]

Gray Catbirds have been found from Wickersham Road to Homesteader Road in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2021 found initially by Fanter, Noah and me and seen by others as well.  I don’t think anyone has seen two but that may not be that uncommon if the female is nesting.  That is great that you found two. I heard the Catbird on Saturday, June 12 but it only cried once and I never heard it again so didn’t list it on the ebird checklist when doing the WLT survey for the area.  I also found two Eastern Kingbirds on the West side of the marsh at the far end looking from the bridge and did list these in ebird.  I wonder if anyone else has found them?

Steven Harper

On Jun 19, 2021, at 6:15 PM, Stephen <schas...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Mary Francell-Sharfstein]

So interesting. I lived for many years in Georgia and catbirds were fairly common. But if we saw a red-breasted nuthatch, we got really excited!

Mary

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Mary Francell-Sharfstein

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