When do catbirds leave New Hampshire?

Most Gray Catbirds have left New Hampshire by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.

When is the best time to see catbirds in New Hampshire?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 46% of New Hampshire checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in New Hampshire?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach New Hampshire in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (46% 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 46% of New Hampshire checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in New Hampshire, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Apr 22-30	May 1-7	May 15-21	Oct 1-7	46%

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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Strafford CountyBest late June · 839 checklists that week, 41,888 in all57%
Hillsborough CountyBest late May · 1621 checklists that week, 50,125 in all56%
Rockingham CountyBest mid May · 2693 checklists that week, 84,864 in all52%
Cheshire CountyBest mid May · 1135 checklists that week, 39,834 in all52%
Merrimack CountyBest late May · 1353 checklists that week, 36,980 in all52%
Belknap CountyBest late May · 424 checklists that week, 13,295 in all49%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in New Hampshire?: Gray Catbirds reach New Hampshire in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (46% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do catbirds leave New Hampshire?: Most Gray Catbirds have left New Hampshire by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in New Hampshire?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 46% of New Hampshire checklists.