WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Arkansas?

Adult Gray Catbird
Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach Arkansas in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 16% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 1-7Oct 15-2116%
0%10%20%30%Gray CatbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Stone CountyBest the second week of September · 11 checklists that week, 1,336 in all38%
  2. Clay CountyBest the second week of October · 15 checklists that week, 871 in all37%
  3. Washington CountyBest the second week of May · 847 checklists that week, 22,850 in all33%
  4. Craighead CountyBest early October · 85 checklists that week, 4,800 in all32%
  5. Mississippi CountyBest early October · 10 checklists that week, 726 in all30%
  6. Crittenden CountyBest the second week of October · 24 checklists that week, 1,136 in all29%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Arkansas?
Gray Catbirds reach Arkansas in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.
When do catbirds leave Arkansas?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Arkansas by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Arkansas?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in early May, on about 16% of Arkansas checklists.