The gray catbird is a summer resident across all but the westernmost United States, and along the eastern coast it can be found year-round, south from Massachusetts. It is certainly a regular in my region; any trip that takes me near a body of water is almost certain to include catbird encounters.
This medium-sized gray birds may lack the vibrant colors of the warblers, but they are delightful nevertheless. Curious and often bold, catbirds will study me on my walks through their territory, maintaining their distance but often discarding any pretense of stealth. They are most readily noticed by their calls, many of which are cat-like in their sound, giving them their name.
I am a visual birder, needing to see most species to recognize them. There are very few bird calls or songs that I’m able to quickly recognize, but the catbird is among them, their squeaky complaints letting me know they are nearby even before I spot them.