Gray Catbirds in New Jersey
When catbirds are present in New Jersey, when they nest, which native New Jersey plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–7b yard.
- Status in New Jersey
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–7b
When to expect catbirds in New Jersey
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in New Jersey, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on ants, beetles and caterpillars.
Humid continental to subtropical, from the Highlands in the north to the Pine Barrens and Cape May.
Nesting in New Jersey
Across New Jersey, catbirds typically nest from May–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; Cape May is a world-class migration funnel.
- 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 New Jersey plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for New Jersey, 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.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
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.
Feeding catbirds through the New Jersey 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 New Jersey's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in New Jersey year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in New Jersey and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in New Jersey?
Nesting in New Jersey typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract catbirds in New Jersey?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry are native plants in New Jersey that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Jersey
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 — New Jersey
- 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.