When do catbirds leave Massachusetts?

Most Gray Catbirds have left Massachusetts by early 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 Massachusetts?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 63% of Massachusetts checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Massachusetts?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach Massachusetts in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (63% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April

Common byMay 1-7early May

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 63% of Massachusetts checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in Massachusetts, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Apr 22-30	May 1-7	May 15-21	Oct 1-7	63%

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Hampshire CountyBest mid May · 5225 checklists that week, 162,423 in all70%
Nantucket CountyBest late May · 687 checklists that week, 23,895 in all67%
Plymouth CountyBest late May · 2734 checklists that week, 89,282 in all67%
Dukes CountyBest late May · 770 checklists that week, 23,670 in all66%
Bristol CountyBest mid May · 1597 checklists that week, 65,262 in all65%
Barnstable CountyBest mid May · 6161 checklists that week, 215,188 in all65%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Massachusetts?: Gray Catbirds reach Massachusetts in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (63% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do catbirds leave Massachusetts?: Most Gray Catbirds have left Massachusetts by early 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 Massachusetts?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 63% of Massachusetts checklists.