WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in New York?

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

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

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

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

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

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

Catbirds in New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 15-21May 1-7May 15-21Oct 8-1459%
0%20%40%60%80%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 York 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 York

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Columbia CountyBest mid June · 600 checklists that week, 28,454 in all73%
  2. New York CountyBest the second week of May · 9537 checklists that week, 187,471 in all72%
  3. Kings CountyBest the second week of May · 5403 checklists that week, 134,897 in all72%
  4. Queens CountyBest the second week of May · 2924 checklists that week, 76,201 in all69%
  5. Dutchess CountyBest mid May · 2543 checklists that week, 76,123 in all69%
  6. Richmond CountyBest mid May · 1368 checklists that week, 55,926 in all69%

Common questions

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