WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Iowa?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Iowa in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (58% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 58% of Iowa checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in Iowa, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 22-3058%
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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Louisa CountyBest the second week of July · 15 checklists that week, 1,639 in all88%
  2. Clarke CountyBest the second week of September · 10 checklists that week, 459 in all87%
  3. Monroe CountyBest early June · 16 checklists that week, 257 in all84%
  4. Shelby CountyBest late July · 10 checklists that week, 354 in all83%
  5. Mitchell CountyBest the second week of August · 12 checklists that week, 660 in all81%
  6. Lyon CountyBest early July · 24 checklists that week, 498 in all80%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Iowa?
Gray Catbirds reach Iowa in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (58% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do catbirds leave Iowa?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Iowa by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Iowa?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 58% of Iowa checklists.