Perch Supply
Mockingbirds and thrashers (Mimidae)

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensis. Insects in spring; fruit in summer and fall.

Mockingbirds and thrashers (Mimidae)Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
Scientific name
Dumetella carolinensis
Length
8.3–9.4 in
Weight
0.8–2 oz
Nest
Bulky cup deep in dense thickets or vines
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
1–6 eggs
Incubation
12–14 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Slate grey all over
  • Black cap
  • Rusty patch under the tail

Voice

Cat-like 'mew' and long, jumbled mimicking songs.

Diet and feeding

Insects in spring; fruit in summer and fall.

What do catbirds eat? · Best feeder for catbirds

Gray Catbirds by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArizonaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
British ColumbiaSummer breederJune–July
ColoradoSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaYear-round residentApril–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IdahoSummer breederMay–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaYear-round residentApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
MontanaSummer breederJune–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New MexicoSummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederJune–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
OregonSummer breederMay–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederJune–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
UtahSummer breederMay–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WashingtonSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July
WyomingSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do catbirds eat?

Insects in spring; fruit in summer and fall. At feeders: grape jelly, oranges, mealworms, fresh berries.

How big is a Gray Catbird?

8.3–9.4 in long and 0.8–2 oz.

Do catbirds use birdhouses?

No. Bulky cup deep in dense thickets or vines.

Sources

  1. Gray Catbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Gray Catbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Gray Catbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.