Date: 7/4/25 6:51 pm From: Michael M. Melius via groups.io <pingothenbingo...> Subject: [sd-birds] Catbird night song?
Here in Hot Springs, a pair of Gray Catbirds have nested, successfully, in a big yellow rose bush. About two weeks ago, which was in the midst of their feeding nestlings, I awoke to an unfamiliar birdsong not far outside the bedroom window. Very clear two-toned notes, descending in volume to an indistinct trill. Rather off-key but very sweet, pensive. I heard it about six times in about a minute. I got up to see if I could find it, but it was dark gray twilight, hard to see. I heard it again, sounding far away.
I've listened to a lot of bird songs online and other media, and found nothing quite like it. An old Solitary Vireo recording was reminiscent, but not it. Eventually I got to thinking it could be a catbird, and found this account of a bird singing in Bent's Life Histories by one F. H. Allen:
"On May 19, 1923, nearly two hours before sunrise, I heard the nocturnal song from a catbird. He sang for some time very sweetly but slowly, the phases coming much farther apart than in the usual daytime singing."
