Gray Catbird (Lily)

I saw this plain-looking little gray bird on Friday June 19th at 6:30 p.m.  It was just around the corner in my neighborhood, hopping along the sidewalk next to a huge grassy field.  It's a mixed-forest area right next to a small stream.  It was a warm and sunny afternoon, about 78 degrees Fahrenheit, but it had stopped raining within the last hour.  Although the bird seemed a little boring to me, I knew I had never spotted it before.

I had to use an app and verify with my North American birds book to determine that this was a Gray Catbird.  I didn't know there was such a thing as a cat bird!  They are apparently related to mockingbirds.  They were named Gray Catbird because they mimic the sound of a cat and have a meow-like call.  This is about the same size as a robin.  Its gray color and dark head make it a bit simpler to identify (although depending on the age and season it can be a bit more on the blue side).  They also have a tell-tale burst of rust-colored feathers on their rump.