2026, animals, Music, Uncategorized

Catbird

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We had a lovely time over the July 4th weekend in a Airb and b near La Crosse, WI. Our place was pretty remote and up at the top of some tree covered hills. We had a huge deck overlooking the forest.

One evening I was on the deck and I heard some very harsh meowing coming from the woods. It sounded like a cat in distress. I was just about to head into the woods when I remembered our grandson telling us that there were catbirds in the woods nearby, as the bird song app on his parents’ phone had identified their call. What a lousy trick for that bird to play on me!

Further research on catbirds revealed that they are really good at mimicking other birds and do so quite frequently. They like to sing when well hidden in bushes and trees, unlike other song birds that prefer to sing in the open in tree tops. Much easier to fool people that way. Their well developed vocal chords allow them to make two sounds at the same time. They are described as brave and nosy, and as liking to be around people. Sitting in the catbird seat means you are in an advantageous position and have the upper hand.

I don’t think we had catbirds in western ND. They like being where there are lots of trees. It has been really nice hearing all the different bird calls here in MN. If I were a bird I would want to be a catbird. Think how much fun it would be to mimic catalog and other birds and sing multiple notes at the same time. There is something to be said be said, though, about the nightingale.

What are your favorite bird songs or songs about birds? What kind of a bird would you want to be?

33 thoughts on “Catbird”


  1. Happenstance that I watched this earlier this week.
    I would be an African Gray. They live a very long time and can swear with impunity.

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  3. I’ve always admired cardinals. Their song is distinctive (but not all that melodic). Mainly, it takes lots of guts to be that bright red color and fly around flaunting that color in front of all sorts of predators. Hmm, do adult birds even have predators besides a few cats now and then? I know the eggs and chicks are desirable targets.

    Chris in Owatonna

    **Blatant Self (un(Promotion)** Due to the heavy expected rain today, my appearance at Lake Country Booksellers in White Bear Lake has been canceled. We were supposed to be outside from what I understand, which is not good when paper books are involved. Sorry if you’d planned to stop by.

    Tomorrow’s gig in Northfield is still on and the weather looks perfect. **END BS(u)P**

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  4. I’ve read somewhere that one of the copying birds can even mimic cell phone rings… might have been the catbird. I love hearing them, and they are around here somewhere – also had them in Robbinsdale.

    I also love the white-throated sparrow song as it migrates through. And I’ve mentioned before the purple martins in our alley – kind of a gurgly sound…

    I think I would want to be the catbird or mockingbird – all that variety.

    Here’s one more version of Mockingbird, from Joy of Cooking (early 70s, basically girl group) – the Mockingbird part starts about 2:20 minutes in.

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  5. Pick Alittle, Talk Alittle,

    My old favorite:

    I love those Biddies. I am sure Ben experiences this in his farmyard, given he is in both chickens and theater.

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  6. My favorite little birds are hummingbirds. They make a screeching/squeaking sound at each other as they battle for dominance at the feeder.

    My favorite winter feeder birds are chickadees. They are so adorable. They’re really tiny, and flit in quickly, grab a seed, then fly off to enjoy it in the shelter of a tree. They’re friendly too, and can be one of the first to eat out of your hand. I’ve never succeeded in luring one to me though.

    If singing was the primary requirement though, I would be a brown thrasher. They’re in the family of thrushes. They mimic many sounds and play them back very melodically. There is another thrush that I heard while in the Porcupine Mountains in the UP of Michigan. I don’t know what species it was, but in my mind I always think of it as the “beautiful chiming bird.” Its calls sounded like a chime somewhere in the trees.

    OT: Does anyone know about Toyota Prius “plug-in hybrid?” Does it have to be plugged in after a long drive?

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  14. One of the zoo shows that I watch is called Secrets of the Zoo Down Under. That’s where I got introduced to this bird although I did know the song from my childhood. This is just SO impressive to me!!

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  16. WP doesn’t like me today. Tried to post a link to Songbird by Christine McVie. Beautiful song, she was gone too soon. Eva Cassidy also did a wonderful version, also gone much too soon.
    JB

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    1. You got spammed which happens sometimes putting music in. The links looked different to me, so I approved both of them, even though it’s turns out they’re the same song. Sorry.

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