Gray Catbirds in Florida

Gray Catbirds live in Florida all year — winter visitor to most of Florida. Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward winters along the gulf and in central america.

Humid subtropical in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.

Across Florida, 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.

Heat, humidity and summer storms: boxes need drainage holes, ventilation and shade, and nectar spoils fast.

• Gray Catbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as wax myrtle, american beautyberry, coral honeysuckle for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Of the regional native plants we track for Florida, these 8 provide food or cover catbirds use:

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 Florida's winter: Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.

Full diet breakdown for catbirds · Best feeder for catbirds