WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in South Dakota?

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

Gray Catbirds reach South Dakota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (21% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 21% of South Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 22-3021%
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 South 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hughes CountyBest the second week of September · 65 checklists that week, 3,765 in all53%
  2. Lincoln CountyBest late May · 142 checklists that week, 2,721 in all52%
  3. Union CountyBest mid May · 99 checklists that week, 882 in all49%
  4. Brookings CountyBest the second week of August · 129 checklists that week, 6,431 in all45%
  5. Day CountyBest late June · 33 checklists that week, 794 in all45%
  6. Clay CountyBest early September · 56 checklists that week, 2,633 in all42%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in South Dakota?
Gray Catbirds reach South Dakota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (21% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do catbirds leave South Dakota?
Most Gray Catbirds have left South Dakota by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in South Dakota?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 21% of South Dakota checklists.