WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Tennessee?

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

Gray Catbirds reach Tennessee in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in late September (23% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakSep 22-30late September
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: late September. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 23% of Tennessee checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in Tennessee, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 8-14Apr 15-21Sep 22-30Oct 15-2123%
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Weakley CountyBest late September · 42 checklists that week, 2,092 in all46%
  2. Perry CountyBest late September · 109 checklists that week, 3,047 in all46%
  3. Johnson CountyBest early July · 35 checklists that week, 1,558 in all46%
  4. Washington CountyBest the second week of July · 234 checklists that week, 16,947 in all45%
  5. Union CountyBest late September · 143 checklists that week, 2,525 in all40%
  6. Roane CountyBest late September · 152 checklists that week, 6,746 in all40%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Tennessee?
Gray Catbirds reach Tennessee in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in late September (23% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.
When do catbirds leave Tennessee?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Tennessee by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Tennessee?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in late September, on about 23% of Tennessee checklists.