Gray Catbirds in Alabama
When catbirds are present in Alabama, when they nest, which native Alabama plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.
- Status in Alabama
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
When to expect catbirds in Alabama
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in Alabama, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on ants, beetles and caterpillars.
Humid subtropical, with Gulf-influenced warmth in Mobile and Baldwin counties and cooler Appalachian foothills in the northeast.
Nesting in Alabama
Across Alabama, catbirds typically nest from April–July. Nest site: bulky cup deep in dense thickets or vines. Females lay 1–6 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 10–11 days.
Long, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms — ventilated boxes and daily-refreshed water matter.
- Gray Catbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alabama plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Alabama, these 8 provide food or cover catbirds use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Feeding catbirds through the Alabama year
Catbirds rarely eat seed but visit oriole jelly feeders and fruiting shrubs; dense thickets bring them in.
- Best foods: Grape jelly, Oranges, Mealworms, Fresh berries.
- In Alabama's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in Alabama year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in Alabama and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in Alabama?
Nesting in Alabama typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract catbirds in Alabama?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Alabama that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alabama
Sources
- Gray Catbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gray Catbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gray Catbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alabama
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.