Gray Catbirds in Mississippi
When catbirds are present in Mississippi, when they nest, which native Mississippi plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7b–9a yard.
- Status in Mississippi
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7b–9a
When to expect catbirds in Mississippi
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in Mississippi, 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 the Delta in the northwest, piney woods in the south and a short Gulf coastline.
Nesting in Mississippi
Across Mississippi, 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, hot, humid summers.
- 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 Mississippi plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Mississippi, 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in Mississippi year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in Mississippi and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in Mississippi?
Nesting in Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Mississippi that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Mississippi
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 — Mississippi
- 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.