How to Attract Gray Catbirds
Gray catbirds are slate gray with a black cap and a rusty patch under the tail. They're named for their cat-like “mew” call, and they spend summer in thickets across the East and Midwest.
What catbirds eat
Catbirds eat insects and berries. At feeders, grape jelly, orange halves, and mealworms are favorites, the same foods that attract orioles.
Orioles come for orange halves and a cup of grape jelly. Browse feeders that hold both, plus a nectar port on some models.
Check price on Amazon for Oriole feeders (orange and jelly) (opens Amazon)The way to a bluebird's heart. Dried mealworms also bring in wrens, robins, and chickadees, especially in spring when they're feeding young.
Check price on Amazon for Kaytee Wild Bird Dried Mealworms (opens Amazon)Plant berries and thickets
Serviceberry, dogwood, elderberry, and native viburnums feed catbirds through summer and fall. Dense shrubs and tangles give them cover and nesting spots.
Add water
Catbirds love to bathe. A bird bath near shrubs is one of the best ways to see them up close.
Birds notice moving water from far away. This floating solar pump turns any bird bath into a small fountain in spring and summer, with no wiring.
Check price on Amazon for AISITIN 2.5W Solar Bird Bath Fountain Pump (opens Amazon)Frequently asked questions
When do gray catbirds arrive?
Usually in late April or May in the North, leaving in September or October.
Do catbirds eat birdseed?
Rarely. Jelly, fruit, and mealworms work far better.
Why is it called a catbird?
One of its calls sounds just like a cat's “mew.”
Not sure which feeder fits your yard?
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