WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Michigan?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Michigan in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (37% 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 37% of Michigan checklists.

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

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

Catbirds in Michigan, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Oct 1-737%
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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Ogemaw CountyBest late July · 105 checklists that week, 4,675 in all63%
  2. Van Buren CountyBest mid May · 396 checklists that week, 14,183 in all59%
  3. Shiawassee CountyBest late May · 142 checklists that week, 3,113 in all55%
  4. Gratiot CountyBest early September · 94 checklists that week, 5,892 in all53%
  5. Lenawee CountyBest mid May · 318 checklists that week, 11,588 in all53%
  6. Tuscola CountyBest mid June · 114 checklists that week, 5,683 in all52%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Michigan?
Gray Catbirds reach Michigan in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (37% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do catbirds leave Michigan?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Michigan by early October, 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 Michigan?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 37% of Michigan checklists.