When do catbirds leave Maryland?

Most Gray Catbirds have left Maryland by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.

When is the best time to see catbirds in Maryland?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 54% of Maryland checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Maryland?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach Maryland in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (54% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 54% of Maryland checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novrare
Decrare

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

Catbirds in Maryland, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	May 8-14	Oct 8-14	54%

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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Carroll CountyBest mid May · 837 checklists that week, 26,728 in all69%
Baltimore CountyBest the second week of May · 5509 checklists that week, 136,139 in all68%
Montgomery CountyBest the second week of May · 7983 checklists that week, 219,548 in all67%
Harford CountyBest the second week of May · 1584 checklists that week, 39,311 in all62%
Howard CountyBest the second week of May · 4539 checklists that week, 118,290 in all60%
Frederick CountyBest the second week of May · 2550 checklists that week, 57,576 in all59%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Maryland?: Gray Catbirds reach Maryland in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (54% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.
When do catbirds leave Maryland?: Most Gray Catbirds have left Maryland by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Maryland?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 54% of Maryland checklists.