Thank you for the info. regarding the Gray Catbird's rarity in this area. I watched for it yesterday, but had no luck. If I get another opportunity for an ID, I'll post the result to Tweeters. I just saw a Gray Catbird in Florida in April 2002, so I feel like I can positively ID it if I can just get a good look.

Thanks again!

Karla

Karla Grimwood
Carnation (Lake Marcel), WA
p_grimwood at msn.com

----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Olstad
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 9:11 PM
To: p_grimwood at msn.com
Subject: Re: My thanks on "cat" bird

Gray Catbird is extremely rare in this area ....only 3 records according to Hunn. (But it is expanding its range westward.) I would not count out the Spotted Towhee.......one of their calls is very much cat-like. This is where a visual sighting would answer your question....good luck.


From: "Patric and Karla Grimwood" <p_grimwood at msn.com>
Reply-To: p_grimwood at msn.com
Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 20:52:43 -0700
To: "Tweeters" <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: My thanks on "cat" bird




My thanks to the many Tweeters who helped me ID my bird that startled me by sounding so much like a cat! Most of the emails I received guessed it to be a Gray Catbird (boy I feel silly for not considering that one!) or a Spotted Towhee. I've had Spotted Towhees as regular visitors in my yard, but have never heard this sound before. I checked some sound files against what I heard, and believe it was the call of a Gray Catbird. From what I could tell of its size and shape, that would match as well.



This is the call sound file that completed the ID to my satisfaction:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i7040id.html



Again, thank you!



Karla



Karla Grimwood

Carnation (Lake Marcel), WA

p_grimwood at msn.com