WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Montana?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Montana in the second week of May, are common by mid May, peak in early September (22% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 8-14the second week of May
Common byMay 15-21mid May
PeakSep 1-7early September
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: early September. First arrivals the second week of May; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 22% of Montana checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in Montana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdMay 8-14May 15-21Sep 1-7Sep 15-2122%
0%10%20%30%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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Broadwater CountyBest mid August · 84 checklists that week, 2,470 in all45%
  2. Custer CountyBest early September · 23 checklists that week, 1,404 in all41%
  3. Valley CountyBest early September · 115 checklists that week, 3,392 in all38%
  4. Fergus CountyBest late August · 123 checklists that week, 4,948 in all38%
  5. Sheridan CountyBest late August · 139 checklists that week, 2,316 in all37%
  6. Musselshell CountyBest early September · 18 checklists that week, 961 in all36%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Montana?
Gray Catbirds reach Montana in the second week of May, are common by mid May, peak in early September (22% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do catbirds leave Montana?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Montana by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Montana?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in early September, on about 22% of Montana checklists.