When do catbirds leave Alabama?

Gray Catbirds never fully leave Alabama: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see catbirds in Alabama?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 27% of Alabama checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Alabama?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds are in Alabama all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of October (27% of checklists), and fall back by late October. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildSep 22-30late September

PeakOct 8-14the second week of October

Fall back byOct 22-31late October

FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: the second week of October. Here all year; numbers build from late September and fall back by late October. Peak: on about 27% of Alabama checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decuncommon

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Catbirds in Alabama, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Sep 22-30	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	Oct 22-31	27%

Gray Catbird

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alabama that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alabama

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Pike CountyBest the second week of October · 13 checklists that week, 503 in all57%
Macon CountyBest the second week of October · 114 checklists that week, 4,809 in all47%
Clay CountyBest early October · 22 checklists that week, 732 in all41%
Limestone CountyBest early October · 108 checklists that week, 6,886 in all41%
Morgan CountyBest late September · 95 checklists that week, 6,256 in all40%
Covington CountyBest the second week of October · 99 checklists that week, 2,289 in all39%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Alabama?: Gray Catbirds are in Alabama all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of October (27% of checklists), and fall back by late October. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists.
When do catbirds leave Alabama?: Gray Catbirds never fully leave Alabama: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Alabama?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 27% of Alabama checklists.