catbird
noun
cat·bird
ˈkat-ˌbərd 
: an American songbird (Dumetella carolinensis) that is dark gray in color with a black cap and reddish coverts under the tail and is related to the mockingbird
Examples of catbird in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The fruits provide a feast for catbirds, Eastern towhee, wood thrushes, and other songbirds.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Viburnum species offer berries in hues of red, blue and pink, attracting mockingbirds, robins and catbirds; while American Beautyberry () features bold purple berries loved by cardinals, catbirds and finches.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
At least 60 species of birds, such as cardinals, bluebirds, catbirds, and mockingbirds, dine on the drupes of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
Narrow branches quivered with the arrival of house finches, gray catbirds, northern cardinals, and other species residing in Washington, DC.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2025
Poles started 2024 in the catbird’s seat and was the Big Man at the Combine, armed with a No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Thus, in effect, either small party could find itself in the catbird’s seat, with the prospect of wielding disproportionate clout in defining a coalition.
—Paul Hockenos, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2017
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Viburnum species offer berries in hues of red, blue and pink, attracting mockingbirds, robins and catbirds; while American Beautyberry () features bold purple berries loved by cardinals, catbirds and finches.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
At least 60 species of birds, such as cardinals, bluebirds, catbirds, and mockingbirds, dine on the drupes of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
Narrow branches quivered with the arrival of house finches, gray catbirds, northern cardinals, and other species residing in Washington, DC.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2025
Poles started 2024 in the catbird’s seat and was the Big Man at the Combine, armed with a No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Thus, in effect, either small party could find itself in the catbird’s seat, with the prospect of wielding disproportionate clout in defining a coalition.
—Paul Hockenos, Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Catbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catbird. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catbird
noun
cat·bird
ˈkat-ˌbərd
: a dark gray American songbird with a black cap and a reddish underside of the base of the tail
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