catbird
Gray yard songster
A catbird is a North American songbird named for its mewing call, which resembles a cat.
The gray catbird is common in shrubby areas and gardens.
To be in the catbird seat is to be in an advantageous position—the phrase likely comes from the bird's habit of perching high to survey its territory.
Sound-copying songbird
- thrasherGround-foraging mimid songbird
- wrenSmall loud songbird
- cardinalOf foremost importance
- chickadeeSmall capped North American songbird
oriole · titmouse · tanager · vireo · warbler · flycatcher · pewee · ovenbird
Forest's lower vegetation tier
- thicketDense shrub cluster
- shrubberyPlanted area of bushes
- woodlandForested land area
- deciduousSheds foliage seasonally
hedgerow · bramble · dense · tangled · shrubland · edge · suburban · garden
Making kitten cries
- raspyRough and grating
- whistleShrill air-blown sounder
- chirpShort, high avian sound
- warbleSing with tremolo
trill · vocalization · call · melody · tune · chatter · scolding · alarm
Moving furtively, covertly
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- elusiveHard to find
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- frugivoreAnimal eating mainly fruit
insectivore · flicking · territorial · nesting · fledgling · breeding · perching
Corroded or unpracticed
- undertailFeathers under tail
- covertsConcealing undergrowth or plumage
- sleekSmooth and elegant
- slenderThin and graceful
long-tailed · charcoal · dusky · chestnut · plumage · feathers · beak
Sound-copying songbird
- imitationCopy of the original
- copycatOne who mimics another
- mimicOne who copies others
- echoReflected sound wave
repertoire · vocalization · impersonation · mewing · cat-call · duetting · medley · variation
mockingbird
Sound-copying songbird
chickadee · oriole · titmouse · tanager · vireo · warbler · flycatcher · pewee · ovenbird · antbird
understory
Forest's lower vegetation tier
deciduous · hedgerow · bramble · dense · tangled · shrubland · edge · suburban · garden · nesting
mewing
Making kitten cries
warble · trill · vocalization · call · melody · tune · chatter · scolding · alarm · territorial
skulking
Moving furtively, covertly
frugivore · insectivore · flicking · territorial · nesting · fledgling · breeding · perching
rusty
Corroded or unpracticed
slender · long-tailed · charcoal · dusky · chestnut · plumage · feathers · beak
mockingbird
Sound-copying songbird
echo · repertoire · vocalization · impersonation · mewing · cat-call · duetting · medley · variation · improvisation
- birdsrobin, crow, eagle, owl, duck
- bird wordsrobin, eagle, swan, sparrow, crow
- Forest Birdswoodpecker, nuthatch, chickadee, titmouse, treecreeper
- migratory animalsCanada goose, geese, snow goose, ducks, sandhill crane
- songbirdsrobin, sparrow, canary, bluebird, cardinal
- Mimidsmockingbird, thrasher, trembler
catbirdhot seat
Position under heavy scrutiny
underdog · back foot · behind the eight ball · losing hand · dire straits
catbirdpigeon
Stout urban bird
crow · mourning dove · sparrow · dove · turkey
catbirdunderdog
Presumed loser beforehand
sitting duck · hot seat · back against the wall · behind the eight ball · up a creek
- catbird seatPosition of control