Gray Catbirds in Montana
When catbirds are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
When to expect catbirds in Montana
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in Montana, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on ants, beetles and caterpillars.
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, catbirds typically nest from June–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.
Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
- Gray Catbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, bur oak, paper birch for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Montana plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 8 provide food or cover catbirds use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Feeding catbirds through the Montana 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 Montana's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in Montana year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in Montana and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract catbirds in Montana?
Smooth sumac, Bur oak, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Common hackberry are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Montana
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 — Montana
- 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.