Gray Catbirds in West Virginia
When catbirds are present in West Virginia, when they nest, which native West Virginia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in West Virginia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
When to expect catbirds in West Virginia
Gray Catbirds are summer residents in West Virginia, 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 Appalachian state with high ridges and deep river valleys.
Nesting in West Virginia
Across West Virginia, 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, humid summers; high ridges host northern breeders.
- 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 West Virginia plants that attract catbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for West Virginia, 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are catbirds in West Virginia year-round?
No. Gray Catbirds are summer breeders in West Virginia and leave for the winter.
When do catbirds nest in West Virginia?
Nesting in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry are native plants in West Virginia that provide food or cover for catbirds.
Gray Catbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in West Virginia
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 — West Virginia
- 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.