Gray Catbirds in Georgia
When catbirds are present in Georgia, when they nest, which native Georgia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.
- Status in Georgia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
When to expect catbirds in Georgia
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in Georgia, 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 cooler mountains in the north and a warm coastal plain in the south.
Nesting in Georgia
Across Georgia, 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.
Hot, humid summers; bluebirds can raise three broods but boxes in full sun overheat.
- Gray Catbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, american beautyberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Georgia plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Georgia, these 8 provide food or cover catbirds use:
High-fat fall fruit critical before migration and winter.
Winter berry-cones and dense roosting cover.
Fall fruit.
Nectar through spring and summer.
Early-summer berries.
Supports hundreds of caterpillar species used to feed nestlings.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Feeding catbirds through the Georgia 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 Georgia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in Georgia year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in Georgia and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in Georgia?
Nesting in Georgia 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 Georgia?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, American beautyberry, Coral honeysuckle, Serviceberry, White oak, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Georgia that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Georgia
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 — Georgia
- 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.