Well, up to 60% of their diet is insects, so I personally wouldn't change a thing to their habitat in that respect.

I'd be happy to have birds come eat my pests.

Catbirds eat a lot of insects, which is always good. They also eat some berries and things, but I don't think they go after garden vegetables. I think mostly they eat insects. As far as pooping on your tomatoes, that's pretty gross. Inevitable to a certain extent in a garden, but if they're sitting there all the time . . .

It could be that when the tomatoes get big enough, they will be bigger than the cages and they won't leave any exposed wires of the cages, and the catbirds will find another place to sit.

If you want to, you might try draping some bird netting over the cages, just loosely, to encourage the birds to find a different place to sit, until the tomatoes overshadow their cages.

I am so glad you posted this crabjoe. I have been trying to identify a grey bird out in my yard and when I read your post I had to go check to see what the heck a catbird is... well it looks like it might be my grey bird!!

It's just too bad, that there couldn't be prettier birds keeping your insects away.

Livestrong4ever, I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. I think Catbirds are very nice looking, sleek and striking. A couple nested in our back yard this year and we are happy to have them. We have flower and vegetable gardens and haven't had any problems with them. They seem to me to be very bold. They will take baths while we are sitting within five feet or so of the bird bath. Amazing.

Catbirds? We've got tons of 'em. They absolutely love peanut based no melt suet cakes. And the redwing blackbirds love popcorn. My tomato plants look like I'm growing guano bushes. It doesn't bother the plants a bit and rain washes it off (free fertilizer). There are absolutely no bugs in the garden, good or bad. No pesticide use whatever except neem oil for the rose bush in the front yard. And yes they are a bit bold, or let's say confident. They land right beside you just to see what you're doing. We like 'em.

Another catbird lover! And I think they're beautiful birds also. They aren't shy and they can be aggressive if you get to close to their nest.

I have lots of trellises in my garden. If it's not a catbird pooping on the plants beneath it's another type of bird. No harm done, as jbann23 says, it's free fertilizer and it washes off easily. Catbirds have never harmed a leaf in my garden otherwise.

BTW Joe, catbirds are protected under the migratory bird act. Now English sparrows...they're another story!

I noticed my green tomatoes being eaten in about late February. At first I thought it was voles again. When the green ones at the top of the bush started going I grew suspicious. When I first saw the culprit I thought it was a grackle.

Without a doubt it is a grey catbird. It was working my garden all day long. I have a complete buffet out in several bird feeders, but it prefers green tomatoes.

Bird netting has slowed it's progress.

Didn't think they liked tomatoes or veggies of any sort. Do they have enough water?

lots of backed up water here

I'll photograph him today. He is on them like white on rice. ignores birdfeeders

If you provide alternate perches along with something to keep them away from the tomatoes, it will give you the best of both worlds, dropping free tomatoes and bug patrol.

I have hung an aluminum pie pan on a stick that lets the pan flutter in the breeze...works pretty well. This stick is mounted on the tomato cage.

My catbirds also have a taste for tomatoes, but they like them when they are just breaking ripe. They peck a hole and sip out the juice. I tried a birdbath with fresh water each day right next to the tomatoes which might have helped a bit. I also started trying to beat them to pick the tomatoes and let them ripen on the counter but it's like they are psychic about when the tomatoes will show the first blush. I would be delighted if they would just poop on them and leave them alone!

I hate catbirds! I think they are an ugly and annoying bird. They decimate my blueberries. How can you people enjoy catbirds? And I am a bird lover.

We had two pairs of catbirds show up this spring and we don't always. I noticed that at least one pair was building a nest, but not sure about the other pair. Then about a week later, I noticed a catbird sitting outside my window singing the prettiest song. I didn't know they could do that. We have a strawberry patch this year and I think that is what attracted them. But the funniest thing I've seen, is that they were actually eating a tomato off one of my plants. It was a 'Mountain Princess' and I held the plant over the winter too long and it already had two tomatoes on it when I planted it out. They ripened already and that is early for my area. One day I saw one of the red tomatoes on the ground next to the plant with a chunk missing. I left it there and noticed over the next two days, more and more of it went missing. I didn't know what was doing it. Then one day, I was watching from the house and saw a catbird make his way over to the tomato and start pecking at the tomato that was still on the plant. I was amazed. They apparently ate the whole thing because it disappeared. So I did see the catbird eat the tomato with my own eyes. So far he has not touched the orange Sungold cherries that are ripening. Maybe he just likes red ones. [g]

I don't mind. I had more than enough tomatoes last year. I think I'll have enough to share and I do like having the catbirds in the garden. I let them have their fill of strawberries when we were done with them. So, we're sharing, but I draw the line at blueberries. I have that bush already netted.

It's January here in the foothills of NC. I have one catbird. It is keeping my birds away from their feeder. What can I do to get rid of it.

I had 2 cat birds show up this year... I LOVE birds but these 2 are not welcomed guests! They keep sitting on my side view mirrors of my cars and pecking at the glass. How can I get rid of them? They are bold and do not care when I come out at 5 am bc I can hear them pecking at my glass window and go to chase them away with my face mask on and robe lol. The one is calm its just the other that is a pain in my bum! It poops alllll over me, and BOTH my neighbors cars! HELP!!!

HU, just pop a bag over the mirrors when you leave the car. It is seeings its reflection and thinks another bird is invading its breeding territory. If it can see its reflection it will leave your car alone. We have had robins as well as other birds fighting car mirrors.

...or, if your mirrors fold in, fold them in.

tj

I am forced to pick tomatoes in an unripe stage and ripen them inside or the catbirds will destroy every one that turns red. They also eat all my blueberries, raspberries and cherries. They are a very serious garden pest. And, don't buy the BS about them eating tomatoes for moisture, I have a fishpond in my garden.

Buck Bagaw

I used to LOVE my catbirds- until they started going after my Monarchs. Moved the suet feeder far away to encourage them to feed elsewhere. Unfortunate, because they ate a lot of other annoying bugs, and they are loads of fun to watch (and listen to). But I can’t have them killing the Monarchs- no way.