Gray Catbird

Table

Gray Catbird – Accepted
1. 03–04 Sep 1884	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1994-051	18	ph., USNM 100202
2. 01–09 Jan 1954		Lodi SJ	1990-108	17
3. 10 Jun 1964		Deep Springs INY	1986-106	14
4. 10 Jun 1964		Oasis MNO	1986-107	14
5. 07–08 Nov 1964	HY	Tijuana R. valley SD	1986-045	10	ph., SDNHM 35095
6. 30 Sep 1968		Pacific Grove MTY	1985-036	10
7. 16 Oct–03 Dec 1971		Santa Barbara SBA	1987-342	14
8. 28 Dec 1973–20 Feb 1974		Pebble Beach MTY	1974-045	3	ph., Roberson (1980)
9. 01 Jun 1974		Deep Springs INY	1974-061	3
10. 19–20 Sep 1974		Bodega Bay SON	1975-021	3
11. 19–23 Sep 1974		Mammoth Lakes MNO	1987-320	14
12. 15 Oct 1974	AHY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1987-103	14	ph.
13. 26 Oct–02 Nov 1974		Scotty’s Castle INY	1980-137	6
14. 02–03 Nov 1974		San Nicolas I. VEN	1980-004	6
15. 30 May–01 Jun 1975		Oasis MNO	1976-023	3
16. 06 Oct 1975		Deep Springs INY	1986-254	12
17. 27–28 Oct 1975		Santa Barbara SBA	1976-094	3	ph.
18. 24–25 Sep 1976		Pt. Loma SD	1976-096	3
19. 17–18 Oct 1976		Pt. Loma SD	1976-095	3
20. 26 May 1977		Scotty’s Castle INY	1977-070	4
21. 02 Jun 1978		Panamint Springs INY	1980-005	6
22. 05–06 Oct 1979		Pt. Reyes MRN	1980-192	7	ph., Roberson (1980)
23. 27 Mar–17 Apr 1980		Northridge LA	1980-063	6	found dead on 18 Apr 1980
24. 09 Sep 1981		Scotty’s Castle INY	1986-428	12
25. 25 Apr 1982		Guadalupe SBA	1982-050	8
26. 03 Jul 1982		Pt. Reyes MRN	1982-090	8
27. 15 Oct 1982		Southeast Farallon I. SF	1987-104	14
28. 26 Oct 1983		~15 nmi. off Oceanside SD	1987-100	11	ph.
29. 07 Nov 1983–13 Mar 1984		Pt. Loma SD	1983-087	9	ph.
30. 04 Oct 1984		Stovepipe Wells INY	1985-012	10	ph.
31. 12–14 Oct 1984		Baker SBE	1986-298	12	ph.
32. 03 Nov 1984		Iron Mtn. Pumping Plant SBE	1984-275	10
33. 29 May 1985		Southeast Farallon I. SF	1985-067	10
34. 29 May 1985		Oasis MNO	1985-113	10
35. 24 Jun 1985	SY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1986-180	11	ph.
36. 03–08 Oct 1986		China Ranch INY	1987-039	12	ph.
37. 16–23 Oct 1986		Pt. Loma SD	1986-438	12
38. 24 May 1987		Oasis MNO	1987-239	12
39. 30 May 1987		Oasis MNO	1987-147	12
40. 05 Jun 1987		Mojave KER	1987-168	12	ph.
41. 23 Sep 1987		Snow Creek Village RIV	1988-051	13
42. 16 Oct 1987		Scotty’s Castle INY	1987-292	13
43. 16–18 Oct 1987		Palos Verdes Peninsula LA	1987-363	13
44. 07–08 Nov 1987		Furnace Creek Ranch INY	1987-376	13
45. 14 Feb 1988		Los Osos SLO	1988-142	13
46. 11–17 Jul 1988		Pt. Loma SD	1988-136	13
47. 03–26 Oct 1988		Pt. Loma SD 1988-192/1988-222	13
48. 21–22 Oct 1988		Furnace Creek Ranch INY	1988-206	13
49. 29 Oct 1988		Cuyamaca State Park SD	1989-071	13
50. 05 Oct 1990		vic. Guadalupe SBA	1990-183	16	ph.
51. 19 Oct 1990		Costa Mesa ORA	1990-186	16
52. 23 Oct 1990		Black Rock Fish Hatchery INY	1990-218	16
53. 01 Jan–09 Feb 1991		Pajaro Dunes SCZ	1991-014	16	ph.
54. 01 Jun 1991		vic. Butterbredt Spring KER	1991-076	16
55. 23 Jun 1991		Southeast Farallon I. SF	1991-150	17
56. 01 Oct 1991	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1991-151	17	ph., CAS 84896
57. 05–08 Oct 1991		Malibu LA	1991-194	17	ph.
58. 17 Oct 1991		Pt. Reyes MRN	1992-080	17
59. 18 Oct 1991		Nipton SBE	1992-057	17
60. 22 Oct–02 Nov 1991	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1992-009	17	ph.
61. 03 Nov 1991		Scotty’s Castle INY	1991-176	17
62. 17 Nov 1991	HY	Furnace Creek Ranch INY	1992-002	17	ph., SDNHM 47870
63. 25 Jun 1992		Pt. Reyes MRN	1993-029	18	ph.
64. 12–31 Oct 1992		Huntington Beach ORA	1992-266	18	ph., AB 47:149
65. 12 Dec 1992–31 Jan 1993		Orick HUM	1993-041	18	ph., AB 47:298
66. 25 Sep 1994	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1994-191	20	ph.
67. 28 Sep–10 Oct 1994	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1994-192	20	ph.
68. 02 Oct 1994	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1995-044	20	ph.
69. 13–17 Jun 1995		Ocotillo IMP	1995-066	21
70. 30 Sep–01 Oct 1995		vic. California City KER	1995-142	21	ph.
71. 02 Oct 1995		Furnace Creek INY	1995-128	21	ph.
72. 31 Dec 1995–19 Feb 1996		Costa Mesa ORA	1996-041	22
73. 29 May 1996		Panamint Springs INY	1996-101	22
74. 13–18 Jun 1996	SY	Big Sur R. mouth MTY	1996-086	22	ph., measured/banded
75. 17 Jun–02 Jul 1996		Big Sur R. mouth MTY	1996-125	22	measured/banded
76. 02–18 Jul 1996		Big Sur R. mouth MTY	1996-126	22	measured/banded
77. 18–27 Sep 1996		Pt. Reyes MRN	1996-129	22	video
78. 29 Sep 1996		Arroyo de la Cruz SLO	1996-130	22
79. 18–20 Oct 1996		Big Sycamore Canyon VEN	1996-159	22
80. 29 Oct–02 Nov 1996	AHY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1997-034	22	Fig. 268, ph.
81. 16–17 Nov 1996		Desert Center RIV	1996-160	22
82. 07–10 Jun 1997		Carmel R. mouth MTY	1997-112	23	singing bird
83. 28 Sep 1997		Desert Center RIV	1997-160	23
84. 17–18 Oct 1997		Bishop INY	1997-206	23
85. 26–27 Oct 1997		San Nicolas I. VEN	1997-182	23
86. 20 Jun 1998		Carmel R. mouth MTY	1998-109	24
87. 19 Sep 1998		Santa Clara R. mouth VEN	1999-040	24
88. 22 Sep–08 Oct 1998		Bodega Head SON	1998-188	24
89. 22–23 Sep 1998		Pt. Reyes MRN	1998-156	24
90. 06 Oct 1998		Horsethief Spring SBE	1998-222	24
91. 07–08 Oct 1998		Chico BUT	1998-167	24
92. 11–18 Oct 1998		San Nicolas I. VEN	1999-045	24	ph.
93. 14 Oct 1998		Galileo Hill KER	1999-034	24
94. 18 Oct–31 Dec 1998		California City KER	1998-171	24	ph.
95. 20 Oct–16 Nov 1998	AHY	California City KER	1998-180	24
96. 23 Oct 1998	HY	vic. Cantil KER	1998-218	24
97. 23 Oct 1998		Tunitas Creek SM	1998-168	24
98. 24 Oct 1998	HY	Iron Mtn. Pumping Plant SBE	1998-169	24
99. 27–28 Oct 1998		San Diego SD	1998-170	24
100. 31 Oct 1998	HY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1999-033	24	ph., Erickson & Hamilton (2001)
101. 08 Nov 1998		San Nicolas I. VEN	1999-081	27
102. 30 Dec 1998		Año Nuevo State Reserve SM	1999-070	24	ph., LACM 111151 (found dead)
103. 27 Apr 1999		San Clemente Canyon SD	1999-102	25
104. 29 Sep–06 Oct 1999		Galileo Hill KER	2000-045	25	ph.
105. 26 Oct 1999		vic. Calipatria IMP	1999-174	25
106. 31 Oct 1999–21 Jan 2000		Pt. Loma SD	2001-162	27
107. 11 Nov 1999		Saline Valley INY	2000-007	25
108. 18 Nov 1999		Claremont LA	1999-204	25
Gray Catbird – Not accepted, identification not established
02 Oct 1977		Pacific Grove MTY	1978-075	5
07 Oct 1979		Santa Cruz I. SBA	1988-088	14
14–15 May 1982		Deep Springs INY	1986-182	14
14 Jun 1984		Wyman Canyon INY	1993-043	21
27 Sep 1993		Moss Landing MTY	1994-073	20
Gray Catbird – Not accepted, natural occurrence questionable (identification established)
25 Mar 1973		Los Banos MER	1986-399	14	see Roberson (1993)
Gray Catbird – Not submitted/reviewed
16 Dec 1972		Balboa Park SD			Unitt (2004)
30 May 1974		Furnace Creek Ranch INY			AB 28:950
31 May 1978		Ft. Piute SBE			AB 32:1056
20 May 1986		Santa Barbara I. SBA			AB 40:525
28 Aug 1988		Bolinas MRN	1989-036		record lost
06 Jun 1992		vic. Merced MER			AB 46:1175
23 Jun 1992		Red Lake ALP			AB 46:1175
05 Jun 1995		Mono Lake MNO			FN 49:978
01 Jul 1996		vic. Orick HUM			Harris (1996)
02 Jul 1996		Lanphere Dunes HUM			Harris (2006)
31 May 1998		Pt. Reyes MRN			FN 52:387
08–11 Oct 1998		Chiriaco Summit RIV			NAB 53:106
19 Jun 1999		Lee Vining MNO			NAB 53:430
12 Sep 1999		vic. Lincoln PLA			NAB 54:102

Figures

Figure 268. Gray Catbirds were considered extremely scarce in California during the 1970s, but by the turn of the century their occurrence had become much more routine, resulting in removal of this species from the CBRC review list in 1999. This adult was photographed on 29 October 1996 on Southeast Farallon Island (1997-034; Peter Pyle).

Figure 381. Annual occurrence of the Gray Catbird in California through the end of the review period in 1999. Records increased sharply after 1970 and especially after the early 1980s. The mean number of records per year during the 1970s was 1.6 ± 2.0SD; during the 1980s was 2.7 ± 2.0SD; and during the 1990s was 5.8 ± 4.5SD.

Figure 382. Distribution of 108 Gray Catbirds accepted through 1999, the end of the CBRC review period. The species’ extreme scarcity in the northeast and Central Valley is unsurprising, but the near-absence of records from the northern coast is harder to explain.

Figure 383. Seasonal occurrence of the Gray Catbird in California showing peak incidence between mid September and late October, with minor patterns of occurrence in spring and winter.

Gray Catbird

GRAY CATBIRD Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus, 1766)

Accepted: 108 (95%)	Treated in Appendix H: no
Not accepted: 6	CBRC review: records through 1999
Not submitted/reviewed: 14	Large color image: see Figures

This mimid breeds from southwestern British Columbia east to Newfoundland and south across most of the lower 48 states (the distribution is patchy in the West and in Florida). The species winters primarily from coastal southern New England south through the Atlantic and Gulf coast states, along the Gulf coast of Middle America to central Panama, and in the West Indies. It winters casually across most of the United States and southern Canada. Extralimital records on this continent extend north to southern Alaska and northern Canada and south along the Pacific coast to northern Baja California Sur (e.g., NAB 57:122; 59:155). Accidental records exist for the British Isles, Germany, and Belgium (BW 19:492, 494).

California’s first Gray Catbird, a first-fall bird detected on Southeast Farallon Island on the early fall date of 3 September 1884, was collected the following day (Townsend 1885). This bird, among the first eastern vagrants ever recorded in the state, heralded an auspicious legacy for the island. Although 70 years passed until California’s second record, the catbird was found almost every year from 1974 to present (only in 1989 was it not recorded). The rate of occurrence has steadily increased during the past three decades (Figure 381). The large number recorded during the 1990s, including 17 in 1998 alone, precipitated the Gray Catbird’s removal from the CBRC review list.

The Committee accepted numerous records from the southern and central coast, and from vagrant traps in eastern Kern and Inyo Counties, but very few from the Salton Sink, the Central Valley, or anywhere in the state’s northern third (Figure 382). The earliest fall records—24 August 2000 in San Jose, Santa Clara County (NAB 55:100), and 21 August 2005 at Blue Lake, Humboldt County (NAB 60:136)—came after the close of the CBRC’s review period. Nearly two-thirds of the Committee-endorsed catbirds (68 of 108) occurred between 18 September and 18 November, and a minor migratory peak is evident between 24 May and 25 June (Figure 383). At least six individuals have overwintered in California, and the species is unrecorded in early May. Earlier records (e.g., 25 April 1982 in Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County) could involve lingering wintering birds. Given that none has been documented oversummering, various July records may pertain to late spring vagrants.

In light of the Gray Catbird’s widespread North American distribution and generalized habitat requirements, and considering the species’ increasing frequency of occurrence as a migrant in California, observers should be alert to the species’ potential for breeding in the state.