{"id":1529,"date":"2013-05-29T12:46:47","date_gmt":"2013-05-29T16:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=1529"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:20:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T16:20:58","slug":"what-bird-is-mewing-like-cat-lakeside-park-woods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/what-bird-is-mewing-like-cat-lakeside-park-woods\/","title":{"rendered":"What Bird is Mewing Like a Cat in the Lakeside Park Woods Today?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was standing up to my armpits in raspberry canes wondering how I get myself into these tangles when something began to mew under the dogwood bushes nearby. Lakeside Park in Mississauga is not a place I\u2019d expect to meet a tabby especially since the east end of the park is an off-leash dog exercise yard with dozens of playful canines who\u2019d like nothing better than to have a great game of chase.<\/p>\n

As I listened the mews stopped and the worst possible impersonation of a European Starling and an American Robin and, maybe, a Phoebe started. So my cat was definitely a bird and definitely not a Mockingbird as they do a fabulous job of imitating everything from Robins to squeaky wrought iron gates.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

There’s a patch of rusty red under the tail to add a dash of unexpected colour.<\/em><\/p>\n

Back in my dim distant memories of exploring the Cataraqui Conservation Area near Kingston, the word Catbird drifted up in my mind.<\/p>\n

Grey Catbirds Mimic Many Other Birds’ Calls<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I squinted through my lens through the knotted undergrowth and there it was peeking back out at me. As if feeling sheepish, the Gray Catbird then flew up and perched on a branch posing for some quick photos with my Nikon. This was a pleasant surprise as Catbirds often spend all of their time lurking and skulking just out of focal range.<\/p>\n

While perched, it burst out again into its enthusiastic if off-key and inaccurate mimicry songs. For good measure, the Catbird added a few mews which unlike its other calls actually do sound cat-like.<\/p>\n

An Explosion of Catbirds in May<\/h2>\n

Over the next few days I seemed to find Catbirds all over: at Lakeside there were at least 6, at Arkendo at least 2, and even at Dingle Park in Oakville I found 1. Checking the BirdAlert weekly updates for Hamilton and Buffalo, I realized that these birds were actually migrating up and through southern Ontario. Only a few of them plan to stay and nest.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

You usually see Catbirds skulking.<\/em><\/p>\n

Catbirds’ Inexpert Flight Skills Match Inadequate Mimicry Talents<\/h2>\n

I also learned from my frequent sightings that they fly funny. To be specific, they fly as if they haven\u2019t got a clue how. The stroke strongly for a few seconds, then stop and literally wobble in the air before stroking again. I imagine this is only when they are feeding rather than actually migrating or they would never get to their destination!<\/p>\n

Still, this erratic flight makes them easy to differentiate from a distance from the gray-backs of Robins or the darker backs of Grackles. All three birds are roughly the same size and therefore easy to spot even in a woods.<\/p>\n

Catbirds Are Often \u201cFrugivorous\u201d Don\u2019t You Know<\/h2>\n

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When reading up on them at AllAboutBirds.org<\/strong><\/a>, I learned a new word: frugivorous. Cunningly it simply said \u201cOften frugivorous.\u201d After I looked it up, I discovered that meant not that they were frugal, but that they enjoy eating fruit.<\/p>\n

Further reading on the Cornell University website revealed they eat poison ivy berries. Oh happy days! So if a new patch of poison ivy appears in your yard this bird may be one of the ones that delivered the seeds to you.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n