Rather plain but with lots of personality, the Gray Catbird often hides in the shrubbery, making an odd variety of musical and harsh sounds -- including the catlike mewing responsible for its name. At other times it moves about boldly in the open, jerking its long tail expressively. Most catbirds winter in the southern United States or the tropics, but a few linger far to the north if they have access to a reliable source of berries or a well-stocked bird feeder.

Gray catbirds are also very aggressive with territory intruders including other birds. They will fluff up their breast and rump their feathers, flash their wings and tails at intruders including predators. They will attack if defending an active nest.

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