WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Minnesota in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in late May (37% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: late May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 37% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  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 Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 22-30May 8-14May 22-31Sep 22-3037%
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Steele CountyBest late May · 224 checklists that week, 4,784 in all64%
  2. Houston CountyBest late June · 121 checklists that week, 4,754 in all60%
  3. Blue Earth CountyBest late June · 111 checklists that week, 3,002 in all60%
  4. Fillmore CountyBest mid May · 155 checklists that week, 3,791 in all59%
  5. Redwood CountyBest the second week of June · 18 checklists that week, 1,193 in all57%
  6. Waseca CountyBest late June · 77 checklists that week, 1,630 in all56%

Common questions

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