WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Rhode Island?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Rhode Island in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (69% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
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 69% of Rhode Island checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febrare
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decrare

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

Catbirds in Rhode Island, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 15-21Oct 8-1469%
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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Bristol CountyBest mid May · 348 checklists that week, 15,899 in all74%
  2. Newport CountyBest mid May · 974 checklists that week, 33,574 in all73%
  3. Washington CountyBest mid May · 1731 checklists that week, 65,038 in all69%
  4. Providence CountyBest mid May · 1410 checklists that week, 40,898 in all69%
  5. Kent CountyBest the second week of June · 308 checklists that week, 16,966 in all65%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Rhode Island?
Gray Catbirds reach Rhode Island in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (69% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.
When do catbirds leave Rhode Island?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Rhode Island by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early January.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Rhode Island?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 69% of Rhode Island checklists.