WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in New Mexico?

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

Gray Catbirds arrive in New Mexico in early May, peak in late May (2.0% of checklists), and most are gone by late October.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone byOct 22-31late October

Best: late May. First arrivals early May; most are gone by late October. Peak: on about 2.0% of New Mexico checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marrare
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Catbirds in New Mexico, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdMay 1-7May 1-7May 22-31Oct 22-312.0%
0%1%2%3%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 New Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Eddy CountyBest late November · 252 checklists that week, 11,011 in all30%
  2. Roosevelt CountyBest the second week of May · 315 checklists that week, 4,563 in all16%
  3. Mora CountyBest late July · 70 checklists that week, 2,730 in all16%
  4. Valencia CountyBest late August · 219 checklists that week, 8,351 in all11%
  5. Taos CountyBest late August · 532 checklists that week, 19,175 in all10%
  6. Union CountyBest the second week of May · 86 checklists that week, 2,373 in all8.8%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in New Mexico?
Gray Catbirds arrive in New Mexico in early May, peak in late May (2.0% of checklists), and most are gone by late October.
When do catbirds leave New Mexico?
Most Gray Catbirds have left New Mexico by late October, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see catbirds in New Mexico?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in late May, on about 2.0% of New Mexico checklists.