WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Nebraska in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (33% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 33% of Nebraska 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. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 22-3033%
0%10%20%30%40%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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Merrick CountyBest the second week of June · 10 checklists that week, 552 in all73%
  2. Stanton CountyBest the second week of June · 19 checklists that week, 835 in all68%
  3. Saline CountyBest mid May · 28 checklists that week, 724 in all68%
  4. Howard CountyBest early July · 16 checklists that week, 493 in all67%
  5. Washington CountyBest the second week of July · 26 checklists that week, 3,482 in all54%
  6. Polk CountyBest the second week of July · 16 checklists that week, 290 in all54%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Nebraska?
Gray Catbirds reach Nebraska in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (33% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do catbirds leave Nebraska?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 33% of Nebraska checklists.