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Black Catbird

Black Catbird

Melanoptila glabrirostris

Range & Recent Observations

Black Catbirdis a year-round resident and doesn't follow a migration flyway. See the Range tab for where it lives.

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Black Catbird

The black catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris) is a songbird species in the monotypic genus Melanoptila, part of the family Mimidae. At 19–20.5 cm (7.5–8.1 in) in length and 31.6–42 g (1.11–1.48 oz) in mass, it is the smallest of the mimids. Sexes appear similar, with glossy black plumage, black legs and bill, and dark brownish eyes. The species is endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula, and is found as far south as Campeche, northern Guatemala and northern Belize. Although there are historical records from Honduras and the US state of Texas, the species is not now known to occur in either location.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Melanoptila glabrirostris
Family
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Order
Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the mockingbirds and thrashers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii
  • Bendire's Thrasher Toxostoma bendirei
  • Blue Mockingbird Melanotis caerulescens
  • Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus
  • Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
  • California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum
  • Cozumel Thrasher Toxostoma guttatum
  • Crissal Thrasher Toxostoma crissale
  • Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre
  • Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
  • Gray Thrasher Toxostoma cinereum
  • LeConte's Thrasher Toxostoma lecontei

Know when the Black Catbird turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting Black Catbird

Optics

Best Binoculars for Beginners

You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.

8 min readRead guide
Cameras

Cameras for Bird Photography

From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.

12 min readRead guide
Optics

Spotting Scopes for Distance Birding

Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

9 min readRead guide