When do catbirds leave Louisiana?

Gray Catbirds never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.1% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see catbirds in Louisiana?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 26% of Louisiana checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Louisiana?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of October (26% of checklists), and fall back by late October. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 3.1% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildSep 22-30late September

PeakOct 8-14the second week of October

Fall back byOct 22-31late October

FewestAug 22-31late August

Best: the second week of October. Here all year; numbers build from late September and fall back by late October. Peak: on about 26% of Louisiana checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Jununcommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Catbirds in Louisiana, 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	26%

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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

St. Helena ParishBest the second week of October · 11 checklists that week, 262 in all55%
Iberville ParishBest the second week of October · 50 checklists that week, 2,343 in all54%
Madison ParishBest early October · 14 checklists that week, 491 in all50%
Bossier ParishBest late April · 224 checklists that week, 3,463 in all48%
East Carroll ParishBest late April · 13 checklists that week, 317 in all47%
Washington ParishBest early October · 11 checklists that week, 975 in all47%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Louisiana?: Gray Catbirds are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of October (26% of checklists), and fall back by late October. In the quietest week (late August) they are still on about 3.1% of checklists.
When do catbirds leave Louisiana?: Gray Catbirds never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.1% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Louisiana?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 26% of Louisiana checklists.