Gray Catbirds in New York
When catbirds are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect catbirds in New York
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in New York, 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, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, 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.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Gray Catbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native New York plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover catbirds use:
Winter fruit.
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
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.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Feeding catbirds through the New York 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 York's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in New York year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in New York?
Nesting in New York 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 York?
Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.