WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Ohio?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Ohio in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (51% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 51% of Ohio checklists.

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

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

Catbirds in Ohio, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 15-21Oct 1-751%
0%20%40%60%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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Mahoning CountyBest the second week of September · 220 checklists that week, 14,421 in all67%
  2. Stark CountyBest late June · 606 checklists that week, 39,737 in all66%
  3. Defiance CountyBest mid May · 39 checklists that week, 1,801 in all65%
  4. Erie CountyBest the second week of May · 2754 checklists that week, 30,456 in all65%
  5. Perry CountyBest the second week of July · 94 checklists that week, 6,489 in all65%
  6. Medina CountyBest mid May · 690 checklists that week, 23,697 in all63%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Ohio?
Gray Catbirds reach Ohio in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (51% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do catbirds leave Ohio?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Ohio by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Ohio?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 51% of Ohio checklists.