WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Florida?

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

Gray Catbirds are winter birds in Florida: the first arrive in mid September, they are common by late September, peak in mid October (45% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 15-21mid September
Common bySep 22-30late September
PeakOct 15-21mid October
Most gone byMay 1-7early May

Best: mid October. First arrivals mid September; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 45% of Florida checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Catbirds in Florida, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdSep 15-21Sep 22-30Oct 15-21May 1-745%
0%20%40%60%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 Florida 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 Florida

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Franklin CountyBest mid October · 544 checklists that week, 20,336 in all74%
  2. Washington CountyBest the second week of October · 22 checklists that week, 1,773 in all68%
  3. Charlotte CountyBest late October · 795 checklists that week, 40,485 in all65%
  4. Pasco CountyBest mid October · 563 checklists that week, 33,431 in all61%
  5. DeSoto CountyBest the second week of April · 63 checklists that week, 2,154 in all61%
  6. Baker CountyBest mid October · 32 checklists that week, 1,308 in all60%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Florida?
Gray Catbirds are winter birds in Florida: the first arrive in mid September, they are common by late September, peak in mid October (45% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.
When do catbirds leave Florida?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Florida by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of May.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Florida?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid October, on about 45% of Florida checklists.