When do catbirds leave New Jersey?

Most Gray Catbirds have left New Jersey by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.

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

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 59% of New Jersey checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in New Jersey?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach New Jersey in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (59% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 59% of New Jersey checklists.

Janrare
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Catbirds in New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	May 8-14	Oct 8-14	59%

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 Jersey 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 Jersey

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Hunterdon CountyBest mid May · 1403 checklists that week, 57,610 in all81%
Somerset CountyBest late May · 1998 checklists that week, 58,057 in all80%
Mercer CountyBest mid May · 1778 checklists that week, 56,614 in all80%
Morris CountyBest late May · 1882 checklists that week, 59,212 in all78%
Warren CountyBest mid June · 355 checklists that week, 20,077 in all74%
Sussex CountyBest the second week of June · 632 checklists that week, 30,305 in all72%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in New Jersey?: Gray Catbirds reach New Jersey in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (59% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.
When do catbirds leave New Jersey?: Most Gray Catbirds have left New Jersey by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.
When is the best time to see catbirds in New Jersey?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 59% of New Jersey checklists.