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Dumetella carolinensis

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Gray Catbird

G5Secure Found in 114 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104829
Element CodeABPBK01010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyMimidae
GenusDumetella
Other Common Names
gray catbird (EN) Grey Catbird (EN) Maullador Gris (ES) Moqueur chat (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Phillips (1986) and some others used the generic name lucar for this species, but lucar is not nomenclaturally available (Banks and Browning 1995). Placed in the family Sturnidae by Sibley and Ahlquist (1984).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-07
Change Date1996-12-03
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Large range, common, population generally stable overall.
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: southern British Columbia across southern Canada to Nova Scotia, south to central New Mexico, Texas, central portions of Gulf states, and northern Florida; also in Bermuda. WINTERS: Atlantic coastal lowlands north to Long Island (and in very low numbers to southern New England), Gulf states to Panama, and West Indies.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A 22-cm-long, dark gray bird with a sturdy, relatively straight bill, black cap, long black tail, and chestnut undertail coverts (NGS 1983).

Habitat

Thickets, dense brushy and shrubby areas, undergrowth of forest edge, hedgerows, and gardens (AOU 1983), dense second growth.

Nests in dense thickets, briars, vine tangles, shrubs, low trees, typically 1-3 m above ground (Harrison 1979).

Ecology

Sometimes in loose flocks in migration; scattered sedentary individuals in winter (Costa Rica, Stiles and Skutch 1989). Territorial in nonbreeding season in Mexico (Rappole and Warner 1980).

Reproduction

Clutch size is 2-6 (usually 4). Incubation, by female, lasts 12-15 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at 10-15 days. Often two broods per year.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralOld fieldSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5B,N3N
ProvinceRankNative
Island of NewfoundlandSUBYes
Nova ScotiaS4BYes
Prince Edward IslandS3BYes
AlbertaS5BYes
OntarioS5B,S3NYes
ManitobaS5BYes
New BrunswickS4BYes
British ColumbiaS5BYes
LabradorS1B,SUMYes
SaskatchewanS5BYes
QuebecS5BYes
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
KentuckyS4BYes
WashingtonS4BYes
ArizonaS1Yes
IowaS5BYes
IllinoisS5Yes
New MexicoS3B,S4NYes
KansasS4BYes
OregonS4BYes
WyomingS4B,S4NYes
MarylandS5B,S1NYes
WisconsinS5BYes
IndianaS5BYes
OklahomaSNRBYes
NebraskaS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRBYes
FloridaSNRB,SNRNYes
South CarolinaS4Yes
IdahoS5BYes
VermontS5BYes
TexasS4BYes
New HampshireS5BYes
NevadaSNAYes
New JerseyS4B,S4NYes
LouisianaS2N,S4BYes
District of ColumbiaS4N,S5BYes
VirginiaS5Yes
DelawareS5BYes
ArkansasS3B,S4NYes
UtahS1BYes
AlabamaS4N,S5BYes
MassachusettsS5B,S2NYes
West VirginiaS1N,S5BYes
North DakotaSNRBYes
MichiganS5Yes
MississippiS5B,S5NYes
South DakotaS5BYes
OhioS5Yes
ConnecticutS5BYes
ColoradoS4BYes
Rhode IslandS5BYes
MaineS4BYes
MissouriSNRBYes
TennesseeS4Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
New YorkS5BYes
North CarolinaS5B,S5NYes
PennsylvaniaS5BYes
MontanaS5BYes
Roadless Areas (114)
Alaska (1)
AreaForestAcres
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Colorado (3)
AreaForestAcres
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Florida (1)
AreaForestAcres
Alexander Springs CreekOcala National Forest2,954
Idaho (8)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Montana (16)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Fishtail SaddlebackCuster National Forest16,359
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hellgate GulchHelena National Forest16,821
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
Ogden MountainHelena National Forest12,148
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (2)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
New Hampshire (3)
AreaForestAcres
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
New Mexico (5)
AreaForestAcres
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Comales CanyonCarson National Forest4,389
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
North Carolina (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Tennessee (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Utah (10)
AreaForestAcres
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Upper South ForkWasatch-Cache National Forest16,811
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Vermont (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Virginia (15)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
Shawvers Run AdditionJefferson National Forest1,927
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Washington (7)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
ManastashWenatchee National Forest11,155
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
West Virginia (8)
AreaForestAcres
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Wyoming (14)
AreaForestAcres
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Piney CreekBighorn National Forest22,240
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Sheep MountainMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest17,626
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (31)
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  18. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  19. Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 511 pp.
  20. Rappole, J. H., and D. W. Warner. 1980. Ecological aspects of migrant bird behavior in Veracruz, Mexico. Pages 353-393 in A. Keast and E.S. Morton, editors. Migrant birds in the neotropics: ecology, distribution, and conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
  21. Ridgely, R. S. 2002. Distribution maps of South American birds. Unpublished.
  22. Ridgely, R. S. and J. A. Gwynne, Jr. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Panama. 2nd edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, USA.
  23. Sibley, C.G., and J.E. Ahlquist. 1984. The relationships of the starlings (Sturnidae: Sturnini) and the mockingbirds (Sturnidae: Mimini). Auk 101:230-243.
  24. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  25. Stiles, F. G. and A. F. Skutch. 1989. A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA. 511 pp.
  26. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  27. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  28. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  29. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  30. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.
  31. Zook, J. L. 2002. Distribution maps of the birds of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Unpublished.