Gray Catbird in August
Where catbirds are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Gray Catbird's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Gray Catbird specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 55 states and provinces where catbirds occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where catbirds are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, catbirds are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Catbirds are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, catbirds put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Ants, beetles and caterpillars
Catbirds rarely eat seed but visit oriole jelly feeders and fruiting shrubs; dense thickets bring them in.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Watching catbirds this month
Catbirds are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region catbirds are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Gray Catbird month by month
Gray Catbird by state
Frequently asked
Where are catbirds in August?
In August, catbirds are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do catbirds nest in August?
No — catbirds typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do catbirds eat in August?
Ants, beetles and caterpillars.
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
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.