When do catbirds leave South Carolina?

Gray Catbirds never fully leave South Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.4% of checklists at the low.

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

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 25% of South Carolina checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in South Carolina?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds are in South Carolina all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of October (25% of checklists), and fall back by late October. In the quietest week (mid August) they are still on about 2.4% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildSep 22-30late September

PeakOct 8-14the second week of October

Fall back byOct 22-31late October

FewestAug 15-21mid August

Best: the second week of October. Here all year; numbers build from late September and fall back by late October. Peak: on about 25% of South Carolina checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Julrare
Augrare
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Catbirds in South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Sep 22-30	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	Oct 22-31	25%

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 South 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Berkeley CountyBest the second week of October · 330 checklists that week, 17,740 in all39%
Charleston CountyBest the second week of October · 2178 checklists that week, 102,218 in all39%
Georgetown CountyBest the second week of October · 648 checklists that week, 32,234 in all36%
Clarendon CountyBest early October · 186 checklists that week, 9,189 in all36%
Marlboro CountyBest early May · 15 checklists that week, 686 in all35%
Beaufort CountyBest the second week of October · 1248 checklists that week, 60,298 in all32%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in South Carolina?: Gray Catbirds are in South Carolina all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of October (25% of checklists), and fall back by late October. In the quietest week (mid August) they are still on about 2.4% of checklists.
When do catbirds leave South Carolina?: Gray Catbirds never fully leave South Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late October, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.4% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see catbirds in South Carolina?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 25% of South Carolina checklists.