Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyMimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GenusDumetella
SpeciesDumetella carolinensis (Gray Catbird)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Channel Islands National Park

3 Verified sightings at Channel Islands National Park From 2019 to 2026

41,820 Verified sightings across all 50 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Gray Catbird

The gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), also spelled grey catbird, is a medium-sized North American and Central American perching bird of the mimid family. It is the only member of the "catbird" genus Dumetella. Like the black catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris), it is among the basal lineages of the Mimidae, probably a closer relative of the Caribbean thrasher and trembler assemblage than of the mockingbirds and Toxostoma thrashers. In some areas it is known as the slate-colored mockingbird.

The name Dumetella is based upon the Latin term dūmus ("thorny thicket"); it thus means approximately "small thornbush-dweller" or "small bird of the thornbushes". It refers to the species' habit of singing when hidden in undergrowth. The specific name carolinensis is Neo-Latin for "from the Carolinas".

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1766 edition of Systema Naturae. His original name Muscicapa carolinensis reflected the belief, widespread at that time, that the gray catbird was some sort of Old World flycatcher (presumably due to its remarkably plain coloration, not similar to other mimids).

The genus name has a convoluted nomenclatorial history. The monotypic... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park

Mimus polyglottos

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Toxostoma redivivum

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Oreoscoptes montanus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Toxostoma rufum

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Sayornis nigricans

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Melospiza melodia

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Geothlypis trichas

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Psaltriparus minimus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Leiothlypis celata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~60%
2	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~60%
3	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~50%
4	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
5	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
6	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
7	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
8	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
9	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
10	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
11	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
12	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~30%
13	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
14	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
15	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
16	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
17	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
18	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
19	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
20	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
21	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
22	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
23	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
24	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
25	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
26	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
27	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
29	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
30	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
31	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
32	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
33	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
34	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
35	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
36	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
37	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
38	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
40	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
41	Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park	🇯🇲 Jamaica	Insufficient data
42	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
43	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	Insufficient data
44	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
45	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
46	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
47	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
48	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
49	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
50	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data

← Back to Channel Islands National Park

Gray Catbird

About the Gray Catbird

Recent sightings of Gray Catbird in Channel Islands National Park

Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park

Northern Mockingbird

California Thrasher

Sage Thrasher

Brown Thrasher

House Finch

Black Phoebe

Song Sparrow

American Crow

Common Yellowthroat

Bushtit

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found