WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in North Dakota?

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

Gray Catbirds reach North Dakota in early May, are common by the second week of May, peak in late May (26% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: late May. First arrivals early May; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 26% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdMay 1-7May 8-14May 22-31Sep 22-3026%
0%10%20%30%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 North Dakota 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 Dakota

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Bottineau CountyBest early September · 57 checklists that week, 1,949 in all56%
  2. Griggs CountyBest late August · 10 checklists that week, 372 in all48%
  3. Wells CountyBest mid August · 11 checklists that week, 416 in all48%
  4. Steele CountyBest early June · 92 checklists that week, 6,291 in all47%
  5. Emmons CountyBest late August · 24 checklists that week, 687 in all46%
  6. Cavalier CountyBest early June · 20 checklists that week, 392 in all43%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in North Dakota?
Gray Catbirds reach North Dakota in early May, are common by the second week of May, peak in late May (26% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do catbirds leave North Dakota?
Most Gray Catbirds have left North Dakota by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in North Dakota?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in late May, on about 26% of North Dakota checklists.