When do catbirds leave Mississippi?

Gray Catbirds never fully leave Mississippi: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see catbirds in Mississippi?

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

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Mississippi?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds are in Mississippi 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 February) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildSep 22-30late September

PeakOct 8-14the second week of October

Fall back byOct 22-31late October

FewestFeb 22-28late February

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 Mississippi checklists.

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

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

Catbirds in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Lamar CountyBest the second week of May · 43 checklists that week, 4,140 in all64%
Jones CountyBest the second week of October · 21 checklists that week, 816 in all60%
Forrest CountyBest the second week of October · 159 checklists that week, 4,572 in all57%
Marshall CountyBest early October · 32 checklists that week, 1,345 in all51%
George CountyBest the second week of October · 10 checklists that week, 490 in all50%
Monroe CountyBest early May · 12 checklists that week, 581 in all44%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Mississippi?: Gray Catbirds are in Mississippi 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 February) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists.
When do catbirds leave Mississippi?: Gray Catbirds never fully leave Mississippi: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Mississippi?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 26% of Mississippi checklists.