Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae)

Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) - HBW 10, p. 479

French: Moqueur chat German: Katzenvogel Spanish: Pájaro-gato Gris
Other common names: Common/Northern Catbird

Taxonomy: Muscicapa[] carolinensis Linnaeus, 1766, Virginia, USA.
Closely related to Melanoptila glabrirostris, and these two species are sometimes considered closely enough related to be lumped in the same genus; in such an arrangement, present genus has priority. In past, present species was commonly isolated in genus Galeoscoptes, but Dumetella subsequently shown to be the older name (see page 474). Proposed races ruficrissa (W parts of range), meridiana (C & S) and bermudiana (Bermuda) appear to be too weakly defined to be reliably distinguishable. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds S Canada (British Columbia E to Nova Scotia) and C, E & SE USA (E Washington and E Oregon SE to Utah and Texas, E to Atlantic coast, also on Bermuda; non-breeding extreme S & SE USA, N Caribbean islands, and Atlantic coastal areas of Central America S to Panama and Colombia.