 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
Gray catbirds were found in 972 squares and were generally common south of the boreal forest. The mapping analysis highlighted the Aspen Parkland as the core of their range in Saskatchewan, where they had a high probability of observation throughout. They were less common in the dry Mixed Grassland ecoregion, confined to shrubby coulees, riparian areas and well-treed yards. They were also occasionally encountered in the boreal forest, as far north as Patterson Lake, about 130 km north of La Loche. Despite their somewhat secretive habits, breeding was confirmed in 82 squares.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
"A versatile songster, as well as the author of a cat-like mew, the catbird is rather secretive, peering out at the observer from the safety of willow or chokecherry undergrowth? (Roy 1996). Gray Catbirds are summer residents from the south coast of British Columbia east to the Maritimes and south to the Gulf coast. They winter from the US eastern seaboard south through Central America to Colombia and the western Caribbean.
In Saskatchewan these birds are most numerous in dense shrubbery associated with pastures, coulees, river valleys, and lakeshores. They have also adapted to farm shelterbelts and, to a much lesser extent, towns and cities, but less regularly than Brown Thrashers. At the northern limit of their range, they have moved into formerly forested areas now totally or partially cleared for agriculture (Smith 1996).
Catbirds are common across the south ranging north to the southern fringes of the boreal forest. Population densities are the highest in riparian areas and aspen woodlands (Wapple and Renaud 2008).
Original text by J. Frank Roy. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Gray Catbird in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Gray Catbird in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=GRCA&lang=en [14 Nov 2025]
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