We are thrilled when our old feathered friend, Luigi, the Gray Catbird, makes his way back to our yard every year after spending his winter south of the border.
Even if that means watching Luigi enjoy dining on some tasty earthworms.
But give Luigi credit. It’s not easy finding an earthworm. But his bird senses (like all birds) are finely tuned and incredibly powerful.
It’s challenging for humans to see earthworms because they’re masters of camouflage unless you know what to look for.
Luigi the Gray Catbird Relies on His Gift’s From Nature
Birds rely on their keen eyesight to find worms. So they’re looking for movement in the ground or disturbed earth where a worm has been moving around.
But nature gave birds yet another sense for hunting. Superior listening skills.
Birds listen to the sound of worms burrowing through the soil so they can quickly grab them as it gets close to the surface.
As you can see, Luigi was triumphant in his hunt for a worm. But Gray Catbirds are omnivorous, eating primarily insects (ants, beetles, caterpillars, flies, and moths) and fruits (raspberries and blueberries).
Until catbirds fledge, nestlings are almost exclusively fed insect food and start eating fruit.
Since these birds like fruit, catbirds can cause significant damage to gardens if you’re growing grapes, raspberries, strawberries, and cherries.
So use caution if cultivating these fruits in your yard. Luigi the Gray Catbird and his family enjoy feasting from our fruit trees. It’s a small price to pay for hosting these beautiful birds.