When do catbirds leave North Carolina?

Gray Catbirds never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of October, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.3% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see catbirds in North Carolina?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in late September, on about 32% of North Carolina checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in North Carolina?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late June, peak in late September (32% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of October. In the quietest week (late February) they are still on about 2.3% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 22-30late June

PeakSep 22-30late September

Fall back byOct 8-14the second week of October

FewestFeb 22-28late February

Best: late September. Here all year; numbers build from late June and fall back by the second week of October. Peak: on about 32% of North Carolina checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Marrare
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Catbirds in North Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Jun 22-30	Jun 22-30	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	32%

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Watauga CountyBest the second week of September · 546 checklists that week, 24,164 in all53%
Orange CountyBest late September · 1852 checklists that week, 69,048 in all52%
Henderson CountyBest mid September · 863 checklists that week, 33,437 in all51%
Hertford CountyBest early May · 24 checklists that week, 1,343 in all48%
Gates CountyBest early October · 80 checklists that week, 4,066 in all48%
Tyrrell CountyBest the second week of October · 24 checklists that week, 2,289 in all46%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in North Carolina?: Gray Catbirds are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late June, peak in late September (32% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of October. In the quietest week (late February) they are still on about 2.3% of checklists.
When do catbirds leave North Carolina?: Gray Catbirds never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of October, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.3% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see catbirds in North Carolina?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in late September, on about 32% of North Carolina checklists.