Evening star., 1944-07-29
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceDell.
MRE1I1rCnA AZ

BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
What is the difference between a
catbird and mockingbird? Since I
moved out here am continually getting
them confused. I know it Is due to NV
own ignorance, but I thought if you
would tell me about them my confusion
might end. and I am sure it would be
helpful to many other newcomers to the
SUBURBS. Sincerely, M. G."
The catbird is a gray-and- black bird.
The mockingbird is a gray-and- white
bird
The catbird Is something more than
inches long, whereas the mockingbird
is full 10 inches.
The white shows in the mocker when
1t f1ys. There is no white on the catbird.
The latter appears to sbe wearing a
black cap, and may be told unmistak-
ably by his familiar call of cat mewing.
There is really no need to mix these
two up. but many do it, even those who
are really familiar with birds.
The mocker, being the largest, also has
the longest tail, one which sticks up and
out in rather odd fashion.
Both Of these birds belong to the group
called mimic thrushes The mocker is
held to be between the real thrushes and
the wrens. Certainly the tilted tail of
the mockingbird is peculiarly like that
OF the common house wren, although
much longer
The thrasher, a large. brown bird,
sometimes called "the large thrush" :"
belongs to the group All three birds
are famous singers, with the palm gen.
orally being given to the mockingbird.
though some experts prefer the catbird
as songster.
The catbird is sly fellow, and in this
respect somewhat resembles his name
sake, whose cry he might have picked up
IN the forests in the old days when cats
were wild. Then again, he might not
If he were an African bird, the theory
would be more tenable.
Wherever he got his peculiar mewing
call, the catbird is feared by some of the
other birds. We have watched many of
them however, and have never seen
them make any sort of attack on the
nests, eggs or f1edglings of other birds.
Catbirds usually select low shrubs for
the nests, and in this way play right
into the paws of legged animals
1t is no unusual thing for catbirds to
lose their babies as soon as the latter
begin to cheep.
Just why the catbird will not place its
nest higher is not known. Certainly, the
eggs and young would be safer. But
this factor of safety seems to be over
looked by many species. Some put the
nest directly on the ground, where it is
not only easily found by prowline ami
mails, but also may be stepped on by
man.
Often the only defense is a fiutterine
movement OF the mother bird away from
the nest. Sometimes she carries one
wing. as If crippled. Such subterfupes
are poor substitutes for a higher place.
ment OF the nest in the first place.
1t Is just another indication of the
plain fact that while the birds seem to
have enough intelligence for most of the
ordinary purposes Of life, they often lack
just the little extra which would nut
them in class with the higher animals.
Catbirds and mockingbirds differ in
migration. All of the catbirds 20 South
IN the fall, but many mockingbirds re-
main, and come to well-stocked feeding
stations all winter. There have been a
lew observations over the years of cat
birds seen hereabouts in January and
February, but certainly the average
observer may watch for a lifetime and
never see one in winter.
Both catbirds and mockingbird parents
are helped In the nesting season by
raisins thrown into the grass and also by
small mounds of ground meat put out
for them. It is best to put such hand
outs" on paper placed on some high
point, where cats and dogs cannot get
to It, Probably the best time to give this
particular aid to all the summer birds Is
at 6 o'clock In the evening.