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On a walk this morning I came upon a catbird singing from a leafless tree at the side of a busy road.. Its choice of stage was interesting because this species is quite secretive, usually choosing to sing from cover. I watched and listened to the bird for a minute or two. Catbirds sing an unbroken string of notes, often a long string. As I waked away a car passed. It sounded like the bird briefly paused its song. I went back for another listen. I watched and listened as five more cars passed. Each time the bird paused its singing as the car was directly passing it, when the car sound, I suppose, would be loudest for the bird. Its song would be overpowered for that bit of time. The catbird would not compete with the cars.